Outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) The latest setback was announced Thursday (1/28) when the Pakistani Supreme Court ordered the release from jail of the man charged with master minding and carrying out Pearl’s kidnapping and murder.
London-born Ahmed Omar Said Sheikh was sprung from prison by a 2:1 decision of the Pakistani Supeme Court.
At the time of his death, Pearl, then 38 and the South Asia Bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, was investigating a link between the Islamic militant group Al Queda and an attempt by the so-called “shoe bomber” to blow up a trans-Atlantic American Airline flight the previous year.
The U.S. government joined the Pearl parents — Prof. Judea and Ruth Pearl — in protesting the decision of Pakistan’s highest court.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Monty Wilkinson issued a statement, which said in part “Ahmed Omar Said Sheikh has long been indicted in the United States and must be held accountable for his crimes… the United States stands ready to take custody of Sheikh to stand trial on the pending charges against him. He must not be permitted to evade justice for his charged role in Daniel Pearl’s abduction and murder.”
“He must not be permitted to evade justice for his charged role in Daniel Pearl’s abduction and murder.” – Acting U.S. Attorney General Monty Wilkinson
In a statement to the Jewish Journal, the Pearl parents emphaiszed that “When a killer is behind bars, responsibility is absorbed by one deranged individual. When a killer is freed, society as a whole assumes responsibility for the crime.
“Today, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has handed an indictment to an entire nation, institutionally, culturally and morally, for one of the most horrifc crimes of the century, which forever will stain the moral standing of that nation. We urge the US Department of Justice to vigorously pursue a request for extraditing Omar Sheikh to stand a trial in the US, and we hope Pakistan responds positively to such a request to rectify the injustice brought about by two of the three justices.”
In memory of their son, the Pearl parents established the Daniel Pearl Foundation, which — rather than seek revenge — is dedicated to cross cultural understanding between East and West. Its emphasis is on three fields in which Daniel excelled – journalism, music and dialogue.
Though relucantly cast into the public spotlight, both parents enjoy distinguished professional careers of their own. Judea Pearl, born in Israel, is a UCLA professor emeritus in computer engineering and is recognised as a path-breaking authority in the field of artificial intelligence.
He is also a frequent contributor to the Jewish Journal.
Pearl met his wife while both were studying at the Technion in Israel. Ruth Pearl subsequently pursued a notable career in software engineering and as editor of the book “I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl.”
The son is also commemorated by his alma mater, Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa, near Van Nuys, which has been renamed the Daniel Pearl Magnet High School.
UPDATE: In a late development, Ahmed Omar Said Sheik, who for 18 years has denied any part in the murder of Daniel Pearl, acknowledged in a 2019 handwritten letter that he played a “minor part” in the killing of the American journalist, according to an Associated Press report.
In light of this new factor, lawyer Faisal Siddiqi, who represents the Pearl family, demanded that the Pakistani Supreme Court reinstate the conviction and death penalty for Sheikh.
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