Hassan Qashqavi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriates Affairs told Mehr News on Monday that Saudi court had been held to try two suspects of Jeddah airport sexual abuse case; “the hearing court is Jeddah 7th branch of criminal court, which held the first hearing session of the sexual abuse case which included two Iranian teens returning from Hajj pilgrimage two months ago,” he added.
“The two airport security employees were indicted on charges of misdemeanor as police and heinous acts on the duty, and the prosecutor has demanded a verdict of death penalty for both employees,” Mr. Qashqavi told Mehr News. “The defendants and their lawyers presented their defense and the judge adjourned the trial to Wednesday,” he added.
“We speculate that the Saudi side has taken an accurate approach to the issue; we could not comment on final verdict, since the trial is still on the process,” said Mr. Qashqavi.
On a question whether the Hajj pilgrimage ban would continue until the court gives the final verdict, he said that the issue needed a separate decision and “I was only explaining the court process.”