The Saudi street was shaken following tweeters circulated news of a heinous murder that took place on Tuesday evening in the city of Jeddah, in which the Saudi youth, Bandar Al-Qarhadi, was killed.
Many social media accounts published the news of Bandar Al-Qarhadi’s death, and a video clip documenting the last moments before his death.
Tweeters circulated a video clip of the young man following he was burned, in which he appears as he walks on his feet, screams loudly in pain, and repeats the phrase, “I am what I did?” (What did you do?), and he died as a result.
Incident details
In the details of the incident, Saudi security sources indicated that Bandar Al-Qarhadi was betrayed by a friend of his who stopped him on a road in the city of Jeddah to solve outstanding problems between them.
However, things quickly turned sour between Bandar Al-Qarhadi and his friend, who handcuffed Bandar to his car, then doused him with petrol and set his body on fire.
For its part, the Saudi General Security issued an official statement in which it referred to the incident, and confirmed “the arrest of the perpetrator, who is a Saudi citizen, and his arrest and taking regular measures once morest him and referring him to the Public Prosecution.”
Al-Qarhadi’s father
Bandar Qarhadi’s father affirmed that he “will not give up his son’s legitimate right,” and demanded “retaliation,” stressing that he “does not wish for a father or mother to lose their children the way he lost his son.”
In a video clip, spread on social media, Bandar’s father said: “I am the father of the murdered Bandar, the martyr of the southern housing fire… Some painful clips appeared of my son asking, “I am sweet.” I refer this question to the killers, so that they may answer.
And he added: “I refer my matter, the matter of my son, and the matter of my family to the Crown Prince, the Emir of the Makkah Region, and the Governor of Jeddah.
Bandar’s father also called on the publishers of the clip to delete it out of compassion for his family, and indicated that these clips “led to Bandar’s mother entering severe psychological trauma” and that he “will sue whoever publishes this clip following this announcement.”
#Bandar_Al-Qarhadi
This incident sparked widespread anger among the pioneers of social networking sites in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.
The hashtag #Bandar_Al-Qarhadi topped social networking sites and search engines, and many called for “fair retribution from the perpetrators.”
Nashwa Al-Ruwaini says: “God suffices me, and He is the best disposer of affairs. The heart of his family. Oh God, grant them patience. We belong to God and to Him we shall return.”
Many also demanded that the published clip, in which Bandar appears following being burned, be deleted, out of mercy for his family.
Khaled Jassim said: “There must be a societal campaign in which everyone participates, which is to delete the video of Bandar Al-Qarhadi… This is his father’s request, and whoever sits and publishes the videos, intentionally or unintentionally, must know that the one who was betrayed has a family and a mother. This video breaks the heart.” And it is not suitable for those whose hearts are weak, so how regarding his father and his mother, help them by deleting.
Bender’s last words
Many stopped at Bandar’s last words before he passed away.
Al-Suwaiq said: “The last words of Bandar Al-Qarhadi are painful, (Oh, children, say I did what I did), and the situation has reached the point that a person is being punished and does not know why he was punished. May God have mercy on you, Bandar. We ask God to place you in the status of martyrs.”
Others talked regarding friendship and treachery of friends, and how to choose them.
Youssef Faisal Al-Otaibi said: “Seven years ago… I became carefully choosing who would enter my life. I became sure that companionship is not in their abundance, but it is in the last of them… and that staying alone is better than accompanying an immoral and bad person, and that 98 percent of a person’s death or success is with his companions.”
On the other hand, tweeters considered that society is a partner in this heinous crime.
Abu Walid said: “Society is a partner in this crime. The criminal is one of us and we embrace him and shelter him among us… It is incumbent on all of us to be careful, vigilant, and take care of our children, and to provide aid and assistance to the security men in eliminating drugs, their promoters, and drug users, and to report every criminal.”
While others preferred to share the text of Bandar’s old tweet, in which he called for people to remind him of their prayers.
