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World turns upside down for Jordanian

AL AIN — A 33-year-old Jordanian, Jafar Najah Al Jinaid, never imagined that his short summer visit to the UAE would turn out to be a nightmare. He lost his son in a road accident and caused the death of an Omani.

The sorrows have come in battalions. Before recovering fully from the loss of his son and the leg fracture, he is now staring jail as he is not able to pay the diyah (blood money) to the family of the Omani.

Jafar was rushing his 10-year-old son, Zayed, who was badly injured after a car knocked him down near Niyadat area, to the hospital in his vehicle on July 28.

In all that commotion, he jumped a red signal and the vehicle crashed into the vehicle of the 28-year-old Omani. Both Zayed and the Omani died in the crash.

According to the UAE law, the person must pay a blood money of Dh200,000 to the family of the person killed unintentionally by the former.

"I have to pay the diyah in addition to Dh33,000 to Tawam Hospital as treatment charges. I was discharged from the hospital last Thursday," Jafar said.

Jafar said he came to Al Ain with his son to visit Jafar's mother who lives with his brother, Khalaf, in old Niyadat area of Al Ain. His one-month visit visa expires on Wednesday.

"Since I have been discharged from the hospital, I have been looking for a philanthropist to pay the diyah as I don't have enough income to mobilise such a huge amount," he added.

Jafar said he is not able to return to his job in Amman, Jordan, as the fracture on his leg has not healed completely. He said he used to earn less than $1,000 (Dh3,670). His brother is a tailor who earns only Dh1,300 as monthly salary.

"The whole family is living in desperation. My brother is suffering from depression since my son's death," Jafar said.

lanamahdi@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE