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Japan | Hakamada found religion, but then felt under attack by ‘the devil’

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Editor's note: This is the last in a four-part series on letters that Iwao Hakamada wrote while on death row. About a decade after cursing God, Iwao Hakamada was baptized Catholic at the Tokyo Detention House on Dec. 24, 1984. “Since I have been given the Christian name Paul, I am keenly feeling that I should be aware of the greatness of Paul.” (June 1985)

UAE: Charity group pays "blood money" to victim's family

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August 5, 2014: An Emirati sentenced to death in Ras Al Khaimah escaped execution after blood money for the victim’s family was paid by a government charity organisation in response to an article in the Arabic language daily 'Al Bayan', the paper said.

The man and his accomplice had been convicted of murdering their 34-year-old friend during a fight in late 2013 and were sentenced to death, the Dubai-based daily said.

The court told them they could be saved if they pay diya (blood money) to the victim’s relatives. One defendant managed to pay the sum while the other could not.

In response to a report published, the Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian and Scientific Establishment agreed to pay Dh500,000 million diya (blood money) to the victim’s relatives.

“The payment followed an appeal by Al Bayan. The sum was deposited with the court which adjourned the case before the release of the two,” it said.

Source: emirates247.com, August 8, 2014
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