Kuwait City: A major Kuwaiti tribe has launched a campaign to collect BD10 million ($33 million) in blood money to release the killer of a renowned writer 18 years ago.
The heirs of Kuwaiti media figure Hedayat Al Sultan Al Salem have agreed to reconcile with the killer’s family and relatives, pending payment of the sum in exchange for waiving off their rights.
Khalid Dheyab Al Azmi was sentenced to life imprisonment for assassinating Ms Al Salem, the then editor-in-chief of Al-Majaless magazine, for allegedly defaming his tribeswomen.
The renowned writer was heading for a conference on woman and culture, held by Kuwait Women Society on March 20, 2001, when she was murdered.
Police officer Lieutenant-Colonel Al Azmi stepped from his 4-wheel drive when he spotted the victim at a traffic light, headed towards her car and shot her in the head for "defaming his tribe in her magazine".
The 66-year-old Ms Al Salem became the first woman journalist to be killed in Kuwait and one of 51 other journalists killed in 2001 worldwide.
The organisers of campaign have launched a link on the internet to invite donations and released video recordings showing the money collection in process.
Social media activists, popular figures, former and current MPs hailing from various Kuwaiti tribes have also expressed support and contributed to the campaign, according to Almarsd.
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