Fayhan al-Ghamdi had been accused of killing his daughter Lama. Social workers say she had also been raped and burned. Photo / Thinkstock
A "celebrity" Saudi preacher accused of raping and torturing his 5-year-old daughter to death has been released from custody after agreeing to pay "blood money".
Fayhan al-Ghamdi had been accused of killing his daughter Lama, who suffered multiple injuries including a crushed skull, broken back, broken ribs, a broken left
arm and extensive bruising and burns. Social workers say she had also been raped and burned.
Fayhan al-Ghamdi admitted using a cane and cables to inflict the injuries after doubting her virginity, said campaign group Women to Drive.
Fayhan al-Ghamdi served only a few months in jail before a judge ruled the prosecution could only seek blood money. Fayhan al-Ghamdi, who regularly appears on television in Saudi Arabia, is said to have agreed to pay £31,000 ($58,000) to Lama's mother. The money is only half the amount that would have been paid had Lama been a boy.
Women to Drive say fathers cannot be executed for murdering their children in the country. Equally, husbands cannot be executed for murdering their wives.
