Provincial Muslim councils nationwide called on the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) to appeal against the Criminal Court's verdict acquitting six policemen on charges of abducting and murdering Saudi businessman Mohammed al-Ruwaili 24 years ago.
The Chularatchamontri Aziz Pitukkumpol and senior representatives of 39 provincial Muslim councils made the joint call yesterday.
Mr Aziz said he was concerned about the long-term impact the court's decision would have on the Thais and the Muslim community in the country.
Chularatchamontri Aziz Pitukkumpol: Ruling questioned.
Paisarn Promyong, chair of Samut Prakarn Islamic Council, said Muslim organisations had widely discussed the verdict.
The Criminal Court ruled on March 31 to acquit six policemen, including former police inspector-general Somkid Boonthanom, who were accused of kidnapping Ruwaili, killing him and burning his body in Chon Buri's Si Racha district.
The 30-year-old businessman was last seen on Feb 12, 1990.
The family of Ruwaili and the Saudi embassy in Bangkok voiced their disappointment with the court's decision and criticised the last-minute change of judge handling the case.
Mr Paisarn said the case has affected the diplomatic relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia and dented Thai business in halal exports to the Muslim world.
Assistant professor Suchart Settamalinee, a member of the Chiang Mai Islamic Council, said Muslim organisations extended their grievances and sympathy towards the Saudi Arabian people and the family of Ruwaili.
While expressing their respect for the court's decision, the Office of the Thai Sheikh al-Islam or Chularatchamontri, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand and Provincial Islamic Councils nationwide were ''disturbed and worried'' about how justice was delivered in the case.
Their joint statement cited an abrupt change of the presiding judge before the verdict.
The three powerful Muslim organisations called on the OAG to push for judicial fairness in the case of Ruwaili.
Chularatchamontri Aziz Pitukkumpol: Ruling questioned.
They said the court's decision could affect the international standing of Thailand among the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), especially as the current secretary-general is a Saudi national.
The Muslim organisations also said the case of enforced disappearance of Ruwaili was not the only example of violence and injustice in Thailand.
"A number of Buddhists and Muslims have been mysteriously abducted and murdered,'' they said.
''Authorities need to rectify the situation and review measures to ensure enforcement of the laws.
''If the situation is allowed to continue, Thailand will lose its image as a human rights champion."
Mr Aziz said Muslim executives would ask the Saudi embassy to be considerate in implementing any retaliatory measures from Riyadh that may affect Thais.
Saudi embassy officials said that the 30-day appeal deadline has been extended.
The new deadline has been pushed back to the end of June.