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Reem Island Ghost Alaa executed by firing squad

The 30-year-old killer, who was put to death by a firing squad, was found guilty of stabbing the 47-year-old mother of three, in a toilet at Boutik Mall on Reem Island

Abu Dhabi - Alaa Al Hashemi, murderer of American kindergarten teacher Ibolya Ryan, was executed at dawn on Monday.

The case, which shook the nation, was dubbed the 'Reem Island Ghost' case and lasted seven months, until the death sentence was called out by State Security division of the Federal Supreme Court on June 29 and approved by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Ahmed Al Dhanhani, Attorney-General for the State Security Prosecution, announced that the ruling on the rare execution was carried out, following the consent of the nation's president.

The 30-year-old killer, who was put to death by a firing squad, was found guilty of stabbing the 47-year-old mother of three, in a toilet at Boutik Mall on Reem Island, on December 1 last year, only a day before the UAE's National Day celebration.

Al Hashemi, who was arrested just 48 hours after the attacks in UAE's capital, was tracked down by CCTV footage. The accused was caught from her home as shown by the video released by the Security Media Department, which soon went viral.

TERRORISTS WILL MEET ALAA'S FATE

The swift execution by firing squad of Alaa Al Hashemi, nicknamed Reem Island Ghost, on Monday, within a fortnight of the death sentence handed out by the Federal Court, should serve as a warning to all terrorists and perpetrators of violence. The UAE may be a country of peace but it is unafraid to strike back at extremist elements in its midst and overseas. The trial took all of seven months and justice was served for the gruesome murder of American expat Ibolya Ryan, who was stabbed to death by Alaa in a mall washroom last December.

Terror groups like Daesh and Al Qaeda are playing with the minds of ordinary people through social media and other channels, provoking them into violence in the name of religion. The UAE is a tolerant country and welcomes people of every faith, community and colour, but it will not tolerate the shedding of innocent blood on its turf by extremists.

Effective intelligence gathering and surveillance of terrorist suspects online and on the ground are important to prevent attacks and killings, but who would have expected a veiled woman to commit such a vile deed? Smart police work nailed the killer and the extent of her operations were revealed by investigators and security agencies when they searched her home in Abu Dhabi. Police said she also assembled a crude bomb which luckily did not go off at the home of another expat.

Lone wolves and terrorist sleeper cells remain a threat to the region and across the world. Being vigilant always could save lives. This is no time to let our guard down and the UAE has shown it can effectively quell the threat from organised groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and lone, silent killers like Alaa, who are influenced and brainwashed by Daesh. Violence has no place in our society and the message is clear from this execution - terrorists will meet Alaa's fate.

After the capture, Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, stressed that the nation vigorously defends its values and stated that the crime was "a slap to every noble human value that the UAE cherishes - all of which are derived from the teachings of Islam and the genuine Arab heritage".

The killer was not only convicted of stabbing Ryan to death, but was also found guilty of producing a primitive handmade bomb and planting it in front of the home of a 46-year-old Egyptian-American physician. The device, however, failed to explode and was discovered by the doctor's 13-year-old son the same evening as he was heading to the mosque for prayer.

The accused was also convicted of various other illegal activities. She was indicted for providing funds to Al Qaeda in Yemen, collecting illegal explosive materials, establishing an online account with false identity to propagate and follow activities and ideas of outside terrorist organisations, as well as publishing information with the intention of harming the nation's prestige and reputation.

Residents of all nationalities in the UAE continuously followed the ongoing trial, not only due to the wave of shock of the story hitting so close to home, but also due to the rarity of the case itself. The accused was seeking to stir fear amongst the community and was attempting to send a terror message with the intent to threaten the State's security.

Executions rare

Although the UAE law allows for capital punishment, executions are exceptionally rare; however, in this case, many residents who still live on Reem Island certainly feel that justice has prevailed.

Rami Alotaibi, a young architect who lives across the road from the murder scene, told Khaleej Times that he was stunned by the December's incident, but he is nonetheless at ease now. "What happened at Boutik Mall was really shocking, considering the fact that we live in a safe community. My friends and I talk about it - to this day."

However, Alotaibi does feel that the police force handled the case swiftly and smoothly. "The timing for the capture was remarkable and impressive. It restores our faith when it comes to safety and it gives us, as expats reassurance that we can call UAE our home," he said.

Other residents however, still felt that they were not at ease after the killer was captured.

George Milane, an engineer who also lives near Boutik Mall, told Khaleej Times that his family was visiting during the incident. "My mother was vacationing here and she was always going to Boutik Mall. I felt uncomfortable of her being there even after they caught the murderer."

Milane believes that it is Ryan's three children who will continue to suffer, long after the case has been closed. "When this case dies down and the community forgets what has happened, people will continue to move on with their life. But although justice has been served, it will still not bring back the life of the children's mother."

jasmine@khaleejtimes.com