RIYADH — The father of a Saudi man who died in an Iraqi prison in 2007 is still waiting for his son's body to be repatriated to the Kingdom. The man said that after learning that Mazen Abdullah Al-Harbi had died five years ago, he immediately sent a letter to Iraqi authorities demanding the return of his son's body. He said his son was sentenced to 10 years in prison for crossing into Iraqi territory illegally. After serving half of his jail term he suffered from an abdominal condition that resulted in his death. Thamer Al-Balehid, incharge of Saudi detainee affairs at Al-Jerais Law and Legal Consultations Office in Riyadh, said Al-Harbi died at Sosa Prison in April 2007. The prisoner suffered from acute diarrhea and died due to a lack of medical care. Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities will release three Saudi nationals over the next two weeks, Al-Balehid said. The prisoners will be released before the end of their jail terms because of their good behavior, he said. Al-Balehid said two of the Saudi detainees who will be released were sentenced to 10 years in jail. One of them was convicted of crossing the borders illegally. The third detainee was sentenced to six years in prison on the same charges. Al-Balehid said Iraqi groups have told the law office that the three Saudis will be released within the coming two weeks. Procedures have started for releasing them, he said.
