Fayhan al-Ghamdi


Fayhan al-Ghamdi is a Saudi Arabian television preacher who came to world attention in 2013 after being told to pay blood money for the rape and murder of his five-year-old daughter Lama.

Career

Al-Ghamdi presented a television show on Saudi television.

Daughter

In October 2012, Al-Ghamdi's daughter Lama died after spending seven months in hospital. She had been raped and beaten, and was left with a crushed skull and a broken left arm and ribs. Al-Ghamdi admitted to having disciplined her with a cane and cable. He was reported to have been released after spending a couple of months in prison after paying Lama's mother a figure said to be equivalent to $267,000. On 7 October 2013, it was announced that Al-Ghamdi had been sentenced to 8 years in prison, plus 800 lashes.

Public reaction

Saudi activists have objected to the ruling, and members of the public have been using the Twitter hashtag #AnaLama - Arabic for "I Am Lama".
Due to public anger, Saudi authorities have announced that they are planning to set up a 24-hour hotline to report child abuse.