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.

Al-Ghamdi presented a television show on Saudi television.

Background

Fayhan doubted 5-year-old Lama’s virginity.

Injuries

One of her fingernails was removed, the side of her head was smashed and the rest of her body was covered up. She had to hear from hospital staff and social workers how Lama’s rectum was torn open and that the abuser had attempted to burn it closed.

Randa Al Kaleeb, a social worker from the hospital where Lama was, told Al Olayani in a phone interview that Lama’s back was broken as well and that she had been raped “everywhere”.

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.

Sentencing

Fayhan 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 £31,000. On 7 October 2013, it was announced that Al-Ghamdi had been sentenced to 8 years in prison, plus 600 lashes.

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.