A girl here has relinquished her Shariah right to have a man punished for blackmailing her into having a sexual relationship with him for three years that resulted in her falling pregnant. The man was arrested by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai'a). He confessed to the blackmail. During the hearing recently, the girl, her father and the man were present in front of the judge, who asked the girl if she wanted to take up her private right. “I wish that you release him,” replied the girl. The judge tried unsuccessfully to change her mind. Saudi Gazette contacted Sheikh Qais Al-Mubarak, member of the Council of the Senior Ulema, for his view on the case. He declined to issue a statement because he said he needed to study the case and understand its details before commenting on it. The story was reported in Okaz recently. The girl had called the Hai'a to apprehend the man who she said destroyed her life and future. She also accused him of trying to get her hooked on drugs. __
