UAE residents call for execution of Sharjah child murderer

UAE residents have taken to social media to demand their anger and shock of the recent killing of a seven-year-old in Sharjah, with some calling for the public execution of his murderer.

The body of Obaida Ibrahim al-Aqrabawi was discovered in the Al Warqa area of Dubai on Sunday after missing for two days. He was last seen playing outside his home in the Industrial Area of Sharjah.

Jordanian Nedal Issa Abdullah, 48, has been arrested on suspicion of raping and killing Obaida. Police said he has admitted the crime but as yet, has not stood trial.

Dubai Police Chief Major General Khamis Al Muzeina said the child was kidnapped from in front of a garage in Sharjah’s industrial area, where the boy’s father worked.

“The forensics doctor said that the boy had been dead for less than 24 hours and had been strangled," said Maj Gen Al Muzeina. “There were signs of struggle on the boy’s chest and hands as well as signs that he had been sexually assaulted.

The maximum penalty for murder is execution by firing squad.

On Monday, a hashtag titled ‘execute Obaida’s killer in public’ was trending on Twitter and had been seen by almost one million users, according to tweetreach.com, reported UAE daily newspaper 7days.

this is heartbreaking #نطالب_باعدام_قاتل_الطفل_عبيده

— Nour. (@Nourr_MA) May 22, 2016

صورة من مراسم دفن الطفل عبيدة...اللهم اجعله شفيعا لوالديه
#نطالب_باعدام_قاتل_الطفل_عبيده pic.twitter.com/D7KJnnprRF

— د.محمود السهلاوي (@mahmouddubai) May 23, 2016

(Above picture shows mourners gathering near place where Obaidah is buried)

Said a prayer last night for the soul of little #Obaida and his family. Can't imagine their suffering. #heartbroken https://t.co/tC5d7ezK4a

— Talib Al Hashimi (@TalibHashem) May 24, 2016