Pakistani court orders the release of terrorists who murdered American journalist Daniel Pearl

The US State Department, media advocacy organizations and Jewish groups expressed outrage on Thursday at the decision of a Pakistani court to release four men convicted of organizing the kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.

Pearl, a 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter from Encino, California, was investigating Islamist terrorists in Karachi after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He was kidnapped by terrorists with known ties to Al Qaeda, the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks. Pearl had been investigating the link between Pakistani militants and Richard Reid, the "Shoe Bomber" who tried to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes.

Pearl's wife Marianne Pearl, a US national who was living in Karachi, wrote a letter to the police on February 2, 2002, stating that her husband had disappeared on January 23, 2002.

Pearl was beheaded by his captors on February 1, 2002. The gruesome murder was captured on video. On the video, Pearl could be heard to say, "...my father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish," before he was killed. The graphic video was delivered to the US consulate in Karachi nearly a month after his abduction.

The US state department expressed serious concerns on Friday over the December 24 decision of the Sindh High Court in Pakistan, which ordered the "immediate release" of the "…multiple terrorists responsible for the murder of Daniel Pearl." The state department continued, "…we have been assured that the accused have not been released at this time," but that they were "deeply concerned" over the decision. The US state department said it would continue to monitor developments in the case and would continue to support the Pearl family "…through the extremely difficult process."

Earlier the previous day, the court declared the detention of British-born Pakistani Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others accused of Pearl's murder "illegal." The other militants accused in the case are Fahad Naseem, Syed Suleman Saqib and Sheikh Muhammad Adil and these men were ordered to be "released from jail forthwith."

In Sheikh's original trial, emails showed that he gained Pearl's confidence by sharing their experiences waiting for the birth of their first child. Pearl's widow, Mariane, gave birth to their son, Adam, four months after the murder. She said in 2003, "…the fact he was sentenced to death doesn't mean he is going to die. Definitely not." She added "I think he deserves to die and that he should die, he’s a psycho." Sheikh, a jihadist who studied at the London School of Economics, was arrested after Pearl's kidnapping and sentenced to death by hanging.

The court's release order overturned a decision by Pakistan's top court that Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the key suspect in Pearl's slaying, should remain in custody. Sheikh was acquitted of murdering Pearl earlier this year, but has been held while Pearl's family appeals the acquittal. Sheikh's lawyer, Mehmood A. Sheikh, no relation, demanded his client to be released immediately and said "…the release might take place today and if not then it is in the next twenty four hours." Sheikh had been convicted and sentenced to death helping lure Pearl to a meeting in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, where he was kidnapped.

Faisal Siddiqi, the Pearl family lawyer said, "…the detention order is struck down." He added that Sheikh will be freed until the appeal process is completed, but will be returned to prison if the family is successful in overturning the acquittal.

In April, the Sindh High Court acquitted Sheikh and three others, a move that shocked the US government, Pearl's family and journalism advocacy groups.

The acquittal is now being appealed separately by both the government and Pearl's family. The government has opposed Sheikh's release, saying it would endanger the public.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounced the court's decision on Twitter for symbolizing "...the impunity of crimes against journalists."

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) tweeted that the release of British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who masterminded Pearl's abduction and killing, would increase "…the threats facing journalists in Pakistan."

Jewish umbrella group B’nai B’rith International said in a statement, "We strongly condemn the order made by the Sindh High Court in Pakistan today to release the four men accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002… this decision is not only a miscarriage of justice, it is also an insult to the memory of Daniel Pearl and to his family."

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), tweeted similar outrage.

Daniel Pearl's parents, Ruth and Judea Pearl, had earlier expressed confidence that the Supreme Court of Pakistan would provide justice for their son. In a statement, the parents condemned the court's decision. "We refuse to believe that the Pakistani government and the Pakistani people will let such a travesty of justice tarnish the image and legacy of Pakistan. We are heartened to hear that the federal government is filing an appeal against the latest release order." They added that they believe Pearl's murderers will remain in jail.

A report released from the Pearl Project at Georgetown University has claimed that the wrong men were convicted for Pearl's murder and claims that Pearl was murdered by Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

The court will resume its hearing on January 5, 2021.