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Saudi Arabia to Try Plane Hijackers
JEDDAH, September 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Two Chechen teenagers who hijacked a Russian plane earlier this year will be tried before the Islamic Shari'ah Court, according to a top Saudi official, news agencies reported Monday.
On March 15th, three young Chechens hijacked a Russian Tu-154 airliner on its way to Moscow, half an hour after its takeoff from the Turkish city of Istanbul, and forced it to land in Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi security forces stormed the airplane the next day, seizing the hijackers and freeing hostages.
"The investigation procedures have been completed by the concerned authorities, and the culprits will be tried in line with the article seven of The Hague and Montreal agreements. These stipulate the right of the country to which any plane may be hijacked to try the hijackers on its territories," said Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Interior Minster.
He reiterated that the culprits would receive a fair trial in line with the rules of Islamic Shari'ah implemented in the kingdom, said SPA.
The agency gave no exact date for the trial. Islamic Shari'ah is the only legal system in the Muslim kingdom.
Russia has formally requested the extradition of the two Chechen teenagers who seized the aircraft with more than 160 passengers and crew on board, said the UAE daily, Gulf News.
One other hijacker, a flight attendant and a passenger were killed when Saudi commandos stormed the aircraft to free the hostages.
"The culprits will have the full chance to defend themselves. The court will give the final word in this respect," he added.
The two hijackers, identified by Russian officials as Eriskhan Arsayev, 16, and Deni Magomerzayev, 19, will be "forwarded to an Islamic court after the investigation into the case is completed,'' reported SPA.
A third hijacker - Arsayev's brother, Sufian - was killed during the hijacking.
The Chechen teenagers were apparently trying to call attention to Russian atrocities in their homeland, where Russian forces have been carrying out a fierce war against Chechens struggling for independence.
Under Saudi law, hijacking is considered a crime punishable by death since it involves terrorizing and possibly killing innocent victims.
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