GLOBE AND MAIL: WASHINGTON and TORONTO — The fate of two Canadian brothers imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, who could face beheading after a youth died during a schoolyard melee in Jeddah, is sparking a vigorous debate in the Arab news media.
The detention of Mohamed Kohail, 22, and his 16-year-old brother Sultan was a leading story on the website of Al-Arabiya, a popular Dubai-based Arabic TV outlet, attracting more than 100 comments. While some praised Canada's insistence on defending its citizens abroad, most backed the Saudi authorities and said that Canada should respect the Saudi justice system.
"It's the Saudis' right to execute him," one reader wrote in Arabic. "Too bad, Canada. Hard luck."
"They must be executed," said another. Arab world debates fate of Canadian brothers (more) By Alan Freeman and Omar el Akkad
Mark Alexander
