>> OUR FRIENDS THE SIA...
Farewell
by Ali Al-Ahmed
(Washington DC - January 23, 2004) ...
Dear readers;
Due to funding issues, Saudi Information Agency will be shutting down by the end of January.
We would like to thank all our supporters and readers since the launch of this service in the summer of 2003.
Sincerely
Ali Al-Ahmed
Editor
1900 L Street, N.W. Suite No. 309, Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone : 202-466-2300 editor@arabianews.org
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International Terrorism: Made with pride in Saudi Arabia
by Saeed Al-Saleh
Things are changing fast, and you have lots of things to do. You can not do all what you need. YOU need help, and you can depend on US. What ever you need, we deliver.
We have our own trained terrorists. We don't buy cheap ones; we raise them from the ground up to get the job done.
We mentor them from childhood in schools and mosques, until they grow up in our own summer camps.
We even follow up with them in Saudi Universities and Institutions. We do not leave liberals to brain wash them! We continue to educate them by our own university staff members, who are paid by us.
So, by the time they graduate, they are ready to roll.
They can take any task, so you do not have to worry. They can kill anyone, just name it.
While we prefer to kill Christians and Jews, we can kill Muslims too.
Not just that, we go beyond any other group, we kill children, women and elderly too.
Others might use time bombs, or remote control to bomb their target, we do too.
But we use suicide bombers that are committed to reach the largest number of people.
We work globally, so your business continues growing. We can deliver anywhere on the planet.
If you are hesitant, we can prove it to you since we have a record to defend and to show. We bombed Americans in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1995, and in Khobar Saudi Arabia, just one year later.
We are proudly responsible for bombing American Embassies in Africa in 1998, and USS Cole in Yemen in 2000.
Of course, we are behind our best piece of art, September 11, 2001 operation that got WTC down.
Still, we reached Americans and others in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 12th of May 2003.
Our terrorists are home grown; home taught and home trained; and delivered all over the world. That doesn't mean we do not recruit others, we do, and we have available positions all the time because we loose some of ours at the job.
You might wonder how we did achieve such a tremendous success. The answer is simple; Ideology and Money.
Our ideology is second to none. We grow our own terrorists. We teach them how to become radicals. We teach them hate to others; even their own people, so they are ready to kill their own families if asked.
We receive lots of money from Saudi government and other nonprofit organization who support our cause. That is why, money is not a concern. We do not charge that much, in fact we do not charge money at all; in fact we will give money to who needs our support and help.
We thank the Saudi government for all the support it gives us, and I want to thank the Saudi establishments individually:
1- Saudi Minister of Interior: he gave us the power to use mosques, shops and supermarkets to spread our ideology and get financial support for our cause.
2- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: gave us diplomatic immunity and financial support through Saudi Embassies to distribute hate materials all over the globe.
3- Ministry of Education: gave us the opportunity to put our hate material into school books and gave us a great opportunity to recruit our future terrorists at early age.
4- Ministry of Higher Education: supported us at the university level by letting our own radical staff to teach students how to hate the west, other Muslims, and to recruit them to fight for us.
5- Ministry of Islamic Affairs: supported us by printing our books, spreading our decrees locally and globally, paid our clerics and their recruits in mosques, built lots of recruiting stations, like mosques and religious schools. In addition, assigning our clerics in all the mosques of the whole country, and abroad to distribute hate, violence and terrorism. Thanks a thousand times.
6- Ministry of Justice: for assigning our staff as judges all over the country, to practice discrimination and promote hatred.
7- Ministry of Defense: for adopting our ideology as its doctrine, practicing our ideology in discrimination against Shia, and for distributing our books promoting hatred and violence.
Need References?
1- Prince Sultan - Minister of Defense
2- Nayef Al-Saud - Minister of Interior
3- Turkey Alfaisal - former head of intelligence
Paid for by: Al-Qaeda
(This is a strictly satirical article, we actually do not support terrorism)
1900 L Street, N.W. Suite No. 309, Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone : 202-466-2300 editor@arabianews.org
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US Ambassador to Riyadh Persona Non-Grata
by Ali Al-Ahmed
(Washington) ...September 21, 2003 ...US ambassador to Riyadh has been declared persona non-grata in the Kingdom by senior members of the ruling family fearful of American involvement in local Saudi politics, SIA has learned.
Ambassador Robert Jordan was asked to leave after he made controversial comments regarding the political future of Saudi Arabia, a source familiar with the events told SIA Friday by phone form Saudi Arabia.
Jordan's comments came in two dinner parties sometimes late spring of this year.
The first was in Riyadh at the house of Dr. Usama Kurdi, a member of the King's appointed consultative council.
Jordan reportedly said the US government "decided" to support Crown Prince Abdullah as king, and that the next crown prince will come from the 3rd generation of Al-Saud ruling family instead of the 2nd generation. The 2nd generation - the sons of King AbdulAziz, - include Prince Abdullah and dozens others such as Naif, Nawaf, Sultan, Mishael, Bader, AbdulRahman, Talal, Turkey, Miteb, and others.
Defense minister Sultan bin AbdulAziz, the first man inline for the coveted crown prince post, who comes from the 2nd generation, was reportedly angered by Jordan's comments. Sultan then asked a guest who attended the dinner to personally meet with Crown Prince Abdullah and convey Jordan's comments.
Abdul Rahman Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri Secretary-General of Supreme Economic Council, who is close to Abdullah, informed the Crown Prince of the dinner discussions.
Talal bin AbdulAziz, who holds no official posts, got also into the mix and called his brother Sultan to inform him of Jordan's comments, sources said. Talal is seeking the Crown Prince position for himself or his son Al-Waleed, on a liberal platform.
After the comments were published in July by an Arab newspaper in London, Jordan expressed to other Saudis his feeling of betrayal. He said these comments "were private and were told to friends in confidence", a source who heard the ambassador's comments told SIA news on condition of anonymity.
The State Department didn't announce the termination of Jordan's assignment to date. The department speaker' Richard Boucher told a reporter last week, he wasn't aware of the ambassador leaving his position.
Jordan will return to the United States two years short of his four-year appointment by his longtime friend, President George W. Bush.
The termination of Jordan's term might have been discussed outside the channels of the State Department, which is responsible for ambassadorial issues.
The termination might have been discussed during ambiguous meetings between Saudi ambassador to Washington Bandar bin Sultan and former President George Bush on August 27th -- in Kennebunkport, Maine, in his vacation home, and Vice President Dick Cheney August 28th at his ranch in Wyoming. Cheney and Bush senior are close friends and business associates of Jordan.
Robert Jordan is the 2nd US ambassador to be expelled from Saudi Arabia. US ambassador Hume Horan was expelled in April 1988, six months into his Riyadh appointment, after he reportedly raised the issue of Saudi purchase of Chinese long-range missiles, "East Wind" which has a rang of over 1000 kilometers.
The US has no history of expelling Saudi diplomats, but has recently declined the Saudi nominee for head of security at the Saudi embassy, sources in the embassy told SIA news.
editor@arabianews.org
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King Fahd Hospitalized
by Saeed Al-Saelh
2: 15 A.M.
(Riyadh) May 18, 2003 .. Sources here told SIA news Sunday afternoon -Washington time - that ailing King Fahd has been rushed to King Faisal Specialist Hospital Sunday.
The sources couldn't confirm the reasons of the king admission, but an official at the Saudi Washington embassy who didn't wish to be named claimed the king is due for a cataract operation.
SIA news couldn't confirm separate reports that the King is in a coma.
Witnesses told SIA reporter in Riyadh security has been tightened around the hospital complex for no apparent reason. One witness who entered the hospital said it took him three hours to reach it.
The King, 86, who suffered a stroke in 1995, which left him wheelchair bound, also suffers from ?Alzheimer's, diabetes, hypertension and other ailments.
The last time he entered a hospital was last summer when he was treated in Geneva University Hospital for cataract.
In what could be related to the King's health situation, Saudi Ambassador to Washington abruptly canceled his appearances on several Sunday shows such as, Meet the Press and Fox news without explanation.
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Nine Months and No Delivery
by Inas Younis
(Washington Dec. 22, 2003)...Two Saudi reform activists, speaking on behalf of fifty three members of their human rights association, publicly announced, last Wednesday December 17th , that they have been waiting for a government reply regarding the status of their application, to form an independent commission for human rights in the country.
It has been over nine months since the initial request was made and the mandated papers filed with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. All fifty three members, including academicians, writers, and intellectuals, among them ten women, are looking for any indication that sincere efforts by government officials are underway.
Najeeb Al Khounazi , a writer and democratic advocate, states that the initial application was made to the Ministry of Labor and Social affairs. Which has since informed them, that their request was submitted to a "higher authority."
In response to mounting pressures, government officials have maintained that they are in the process of forming not one, but two human rights commissions. Since this announcement was made no government action has been taken. Nor has legal authority been granted for independent groups to operate.
Al Khounazi asserts that the application for an independent, non- government sponsored team of human rights activists is in accordance with the assurances made by officials to support and enforce the legal rights of all citizens in the kingdom.
Another outspoken member of the group writer and poet, Ali Al Dimeeni, stressed that human rights reforms should not be viewed as a one dimensional project, but as a multi dimensional conception which should hopefully lead to a more democratic system. He and other members of his party are campaigning for the fulfillment of government obligations and for some accountability to be upheld in the face of un-delivered promises.
Meanwhile, the country of Bahrain recently celebrated the formation of The Bahraini Committee for Human Rights. In a show of support, Both Al Dimeeni and Al Khounazi attended the festivities along with other Saudi activists.
Encouraged by the success of their neighbors and the international community at large, Saudi activists are still clinging to the words of Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Feisal, who last May, acknowledged, in principle, to the establishment of a National Commission on Human Rights, and promised that its activities will start
"soon." Nine months have since passed, and words serve as the only consolation that someday there may be something to celebrate, more closer to home.
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Torture in Saudi Arabia, Official and Real
May 9, 2002
P.O. Box 6642
McLean, VA 22101
Tel: (703) 766-0200
E-mail: saudiinstitute@hotmail.com
www.saudiinstitute.org
Torture in Saudi Arabia
Although Prince Naif denied the charges of torture in Saudi prisons, it continues to be a common tool of interrogations approved and ordered by the highest security officials, including Prince Naif. The government claims torture is banned, but it is occurs daily, according to released prisoners and several members of Saudi Mabahith who spoke to the Institute. Some of the following torture methods were used with Mr. Sampson. They include the following:
The state was founded on 22 September 1933, after the land under the control of AbdulAziz was renamed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 15 years before the state of Israel.
Torture in Saudi Arabia is widely used by secret police and other security apparatus. The main focus here is what takes place in Mabahith prisons. Information are so scares and are usually are obtained from released prisoners, who are forced to sign affidavits to stay silence of anything the experience or witness inside prison. Another source is security personal who object to torture but powerless to stop it. Both Saudi citizens are foreigners are subjected to torture, but its severity varies based on racial, tribal, religious, national and other considerations. Political and religious prisoners are the main subject for torture.
Torture is used with knowledge of senior officials as a tool of interrogations, punishment of prisoners, and part of judicial sentences. It is widely known to occur, and has been confirmed in all human right reports written by international organizations and governments.
Police, Mabahith, intelligence, religious police, and military forces all commit acts of torture, which can be by physical and psychological methods.
Political Environment
The country is the largest absolute monarchy in the world ruled by royal decrees. There are no elections, or formal representation. Women, who make up 57% of population, are excluded from the limited political process.
All non Sunni minorities are also excluded from the political and religious institutions.
The vast majority of the political apparatus is made up from members of the royal family and the family of Mohamed Ben AbdulaWahab, the founder of Wahhabism.
The political positions are denominated by members of the royal family, who enjoy automatic special financial and legal privileges. The presence of members of the royal family in government positions is at its highest in history.
The religious institutions are dominated by AbdulWahabi family. These institutions which include the justice system, ministry of Islamic Affairs, religious police, and others are limited to Wahhabi Muslims, which excludes the majority of Saudi population.
Legal Environment
The country depends on Sharia law as interpreted by the Wahhabi denomination of the Hanbali Sunni Islam. All judges in the country are Hanbali (Wahhabi) and graduates of religious institutions like Imam Mohamed Bin Saud University. There are no Maliki, Shafey or Shia judges in the country. This has proven especially hard on Shia citizens who have to face judges deeming them as heretics. Saudi judges do not accept Shia testimonies against Sunnis, or in matters effecting Sunnis.
The Saudi council of ministers approved Monday October 2nd 2001 the new law regulating lawyers licensing, which allows defendants to appoint lawyers to represent them before courts and other government agencies.
The decree also restated that defendants are not to be tortured physically or physiologically by security forces. The law also limited the arrest of defendants to five days if charges were not filed.
A major point of concern is the new law gives unlimited powers to the minister of interior to detain people indefinitely. Also the law doesn't clarify probable cause needed to hold prisoners over five days. Both powers would be a source of abuses of the rights of prisoners.
The law allows for secret trials which is the norm in the country until the writing of this report. The law allows for flogging and other forms of punishments administratively and judicially.
The law apparently sanctions the harming of prisoners. It reads as follows:
"Banning the physical and physiological harming arrested persons and no punishment can be given except for crimes prohibited by Shariah law and Saudi regulations".
Although the law was passed in October 2001, lawyers have not been allowed to represent defendants so far except in the case of British and Belgian defendants accused of bombing and alcohol charges.
Confessions are the primary mean to confect defendants in Saudi courts. This legal structure encourages officers to extract confessions from defendants through torture and deception.
There are no cases of remedies or compensations for torture victims. Judges have been powerless to prevent and address torture incidents.
Extra Judicial Flogging
Although they don't have any judicial powers members of the royal family, local governors, and many security officers ordered flogging for reasons that vary from interrogation, extracting information, punishment to pure revenge.
Interior minister: Prince Naif like many members of the royal family order flogging of citizens as a punishment or "to teach a lesson" to the victims.
On the night of August 12, 1980 which was the night of Muslim feast Eid Al-Fiter, hundreds of prisoners in Dammam Mabahith headquarters started to sing in jubilation for the happy occasion. The prison authority tried to stop the singing by moving 10 prisoners to individual cells. The situation escalated after police started beating prisoners who objected to the movement of their cellmates. On the next day Prince Naif ordered the flogging of all prisoner 100 lashes on their backs. His orders were read to prisoners prior to the flogging.
Provincial Governors: Prince Salman Ben AbdulAziz governor of Riyadh has ordered torture by lashing without judicial process. Al-Riyadh newspaper reported on Tuesday 25 September 2001 Issue No.12146 Year 38, that prince Salman, the governor of the capital city Riyadh ordered the doubling of lashes form 15 to 30 to a teenager who harassed women. The lashes were ordered against 13 young men by a committee of religious police, Riyadh governorship, and Riyadh police, none of which have any judicial authority according to Saudi law. Prince Salman also ordered the immediate lashing of four youths who were accused of harassing females in public, according to Al-Riyadh news paper Thursday 17 January 2002 No.12260 Year 39.
Prince Meqran Ben AbdulAziz of Madina ordered the lashing of a dozen Shia high school students who got into a fight with a teacher who insulted their religious beliefs inside class. They were all flogged 300 times. In another incident, an Egyptian man was flogged after he was accused of harassing an Indonesian woman. Arab News said "The Egyptian was flogged before the rioters upon the orders of Madinah Governor Prince Muqrin, and then forwarded to the local court for questioning. ArabNews added "Special security forces were deployed to contain the riot. The Egyptian man was arrested and flogged before the rioters in a bid to defuse the tension." (ArabNews March 2002).
A similar action was taken by Prince Meshael Ben Saud of Najran, who ordered the lashing of high School students: Ali Mahdi Al-Masaad, Mubarick Salim Al-Misaad, Ali Yahia Al-Salim, and Ali Siraj Al-Saloom.
Torture Methods
Rotisserie Chicken (Farooj): The victim is shackled and cuffed. The hands and feet of the victim are tide together, while he is lifted by a wooden bar and suspended in the air in close resemblance to a rotisserie chicken. The helpless victim is then severely beaten by sticks and cables and electric shocks are applied.
Saudi Hanging: Also known as "Carcass Hanging." The victim is cuffed then lifted by his handcuffs from a special hook on the wall or ceiling, and from the metal doors. The victim is hanged from his hands as long as 16 days, such as one case of Ismaili religious prisoner in Al-Hair prison in Riyadh. The victim is beaten all over the body and on the gentiles while hanged.
Blood Circulation: The handcuffs are tightened to cut off blood circulation for hours which causes terrible pain. Several prisoners reported temporary paralysis, or weakening of limps after this torture.
Falaqah: The legs are shackled and lifted by a special wooden bar. Cables and stick are used to beat the sole of the feet for hours at the time. Bleedings are common in these sessions. The victim will crawl for weeks after the beatings.
Severe Beatings: The victim is tied to and beaten by sticks, cables, and any hard objects such as chairs or machine guns. Several prisoners said they were beaten continuously for a week from morning until night.
Penis Blocking: Tying the penis with a thin string to prevent urination for hours or days while the victim is Saudi-hanged.
Anal Molestation: A broomstick in inserted in the anal canal while the victim is hanged from his cuffs or in the Farooj position. General Suliman A-Alwan and Thafer Al-Shehri subjected several prisoners to this torture in Dammam.
Sleep Deprivation: The victim is sleep deprived for up two weeks such as the case of Shaikh Habeeb Hamada from Qateef, who was sleep deprived for two weeks by Thafer Al-Shihri in Dammam Mabahith headquarters. The victim is beaten, soaked with water, and forced to stand. The victim will start hallucinating in few days.
Deprivation of Bathroom Privileges: The victim is not allowed to use the bathroom facilities for days. Shaikh Mohamed Al-Khudair was a victim to this method, which lead to a colon surgery in Al-Markazi hospital in Dammam.
Torture in Saudi prisons is common and a tool of investigations. Torture is carried out with the knowledge and consent of the highest Saudi security officials.
We have confirmed that the following Saudi citizens have been continuously tortured daily for months by Saudi investigators in Riyadh and Dammam.
Torture Victims:
1- Ahmed Turki Al-Saab, 42, a tribal leader of the Ismaili tribe of Yam in Najran. He was arrested Tuesday January 15 form his house. Several witness reported seeing him in King Khalid hospital in Najran suffering from bruises which indicates torture. Al-Sa'ab was arrested a week after Wall Street Journal published his comments on the religious persecution and demographic mutilation his tribe faced.
2- Nedhal AlMarzooq (AlShawykhat): 19, from Saihat city arrested 11 September 1996. The former Mabhith chief in Dammam, Sulimam AlAlwan and chief investigator Thafer AlShehri tortured him by cross hanging from his right foot and left hand combined with severe beatings and electric shocks. AlAlwan now serves as the Mabhith chief in Qaseem since 1997.
3- Wajeeh Al-Khatim: from Saihat arrested 11 September 1996, was tortured by Major Mesfer Al-Ghamdi. He was hanged upside-down and was severely beaten by several soldiers with metal cables at same time.
4- Abdullah Al-Jafaal: from Saihat arrested 11 September 1996 and tortured in Dammam and Riyadh AlHair prison by severe beatings and Saudi hanging.
5- Basil Abu AlSaud: from Qateef was tortured severely using different methods, which drove him to try to commit suicide. He was threatened with rape by Colonial Suliman Al-Alwan.
6- Nasir Abu Al-Liraat: 24, from Qateef was arrested June 28 and transferred to Riyadh after he was tortured in Dammam.
7- Abdullah AlJarash: 35, teacher from Qateef was tortured in Dammam and Riyadh in the presence of several senior interior ministry officials to confess responsibility to Khober bombing. He remains in Al-Hair maximum-security prison since his arrest in August 1996.
8- Shaikh AbdulLatif Mohamed Ali: 42, from Dammam arrested September 1996. He spent two years in solitary confinement and was tortured severely. He was taken to hospital several times due to torture.
9- Syed Mostafa AlQasaab: from Qateef arrested April 1997. He was tortured daily for 6 months. He remains in Al-Haier maximum-security prison in Riyadh.
10- Shaikh Ali Abu Taaki: from Qateef was arrested 26April 1996 then was transferred to Riyadh after Khober bombing. He was tortured by electric shocks and hanging. His torture was sever he had to be carried in a blanket after torture sessions.
11- Shaikh Saeed AlBahar: 34, was tortured by Lieutenant Salah AlMehtersih AlOtaibi. Shaikh Albahhar was kept in solitary confinement for two years.
12- Ali Al-Qattan: 34, teacher from Qateef arrested in August 1996 was tortured in Dammam before was transferred to Riyadh. He had three surgeries due to torture in Alhair prison in Riyadh. A senior Mabahith official who conducted contacts with US officials tortured AlQattan.
13- Mohamed Al-Rabaabi: was tortured in Dammam and Riyadh and lost two teethes. He was tortured to confess responsibility to Riyadh bombing in 1995. He was taped giving that false confession.
14- Hussain Mughais: from Qateef arrested August 1996. He was tortured in Dammam and transferred to Riyadh. He was tortured by hanging and electric shocks on his chest.
15- Shaikh Ali Al-Ghanim Shia Jafari, 36, from Safwa was arrested August 11, 2000 from Saudi-Jordanian borders. He was interrogated in Dammam Mabahith headquarters and tortured severely on daily bases for 5 months. An interior ministry official sentenced him to 5 years in a 10-minute kangaroo court. The institute contacted Dr. Saleh Al-Hujailan, a prominent Saudi lawyer to represent Al-Ghanim but he declined the case.
16- Hussain Marzook Al-Ghobary is 47 year old employee of minister of agriculture from Najran was arrested after the police attack on the main Ismaili mosque in Al-Mansoorah April 23, 2000. He was tortured severely and was beaten on his head and body, which resulted in a mental breakdown. He spent three months in King Khalid hospital in Najran after his release October 2000.
17- Shaikh Salim Al-Qurad tribal leader from Najran was sentenced to 1500 lashes in September 2001 after writing poetry praising the supreme Ismaili leader Shaikh Hussain Al-Makrami.
18- Kamil Abbas, 30, unemployed from Safwa was arrested in September 15 2001 in Safwa police station. He was sleep deprived for 3 days beaten by Officer Ali Al-Motairi in Safwa police station. He remains held incommunicado in Mabahith Dammam headquarters. He has not been allowed a lawyer or family visitation. Famous Saudi lawyer Dr. Salah Al-Hujailan, who is representing Britons in bombing case declined to defend Abbas.
19- Four Ismaili students were flogged because they had a fight with a teacher that follows the official Wahhabi sect who insulted their religious beliefs in the classroom. They were sentenced between 2 to 4 years and 500 to 800 lashes. They were lashed inside their school. They are: Ali Mahdi Al-Masaad, Mubarisk Salim Al-Misaad, Ali Yahia Al-Salim, and Ali Siraj Al-Saloom. Ali Siraj Al-Saloom, and Ali Yahya Al-Salim, both Ismaili prisoners were released January 22 after they served their sentences. They were arrested 20 months ago and were lashed 500 times.
Death by Torture
The Murders of Mohamed Al-Hayek, AbdulAzizi Al-Tamimi, and Myatham Al-Baher:
1- AbdulAziz Al-Tamimi, 28, a government employee was arrested with his younger brother from Hawtat Bani Tameem in late 1996 after a murder case. The healthy Al-Tamimi died in February 1997 in Al-Hair maximum prison in Riyadh, and was buried in Al-Oud cemetery in Riyadh, according to his cousin Qanas Al-Tamimi.
2- Mohamed Hassan Al-Hayek: A government employee, 28, from Qateef was murdered by severe torture in early September 1996 inside Al-Hair prison in Riyadh in the presence of a senior Mabahith officials. Al-Hayek was arrested 27 June 1996 from his office in Jubail and was transferred to Riyadh 3 July 1996. He was buried in undisclosed location somewhere in Riyadh, and his body was never returned to his family. Lieutenant Colonel Al-Hamaad Mabahith chief in the Dammam informed his family in 21 June 1998 of Al-Hayek death and burial.
3- Maytham Al-Baher: 19, college student from Qateef was tortured by Major Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Aseeri of Mabahith in Dammam. He was tortured by hanging from his cuffs and severe beatings his back and kidneys. Al-Baher died while he was cuffed to his deathbed in Dammam Central hospital 14 October 1996. He was refused any medical treatment for two weeks prior to his hospital admission. He was arrested 13 September 1996. A cellmate of Al-Baher said he was beaten with sticks and kicked on his back, which lead his illness and subsequent death at the Al-Markazi hospital in Dammam.
4- Ali Al-Malblab, 70, from Al-Jaffer, a Shia prayer caller was arrested by religious police from the mosque sometime in November 1998. He was beaten to death in few hours, and his body was left in front of the mosque. The body then was taken by the government and returned for burial a year after his killing. The killers of Al-Malblab were transferred to Al-Oyoon headquarters as punishment. His family wrote to Prince Na?f and Crown Prince Abdullah and got no response or compensation.
Flogging
Although lashing is part of Islamic penal code, it was prescribed in Koran for only two very specific situations. 100 lashes were prescribed for adultery. Adultery is only satisfied after four credible witnesses seeing the actual act. The 2nd situation 80 lashes are prescribed for libeling of female honor. Both punishments were mentioned in Koran Chapter 24 (Al-Noor) verses 2 & 3.
40 to 80 lashes for alcohol consumption were prescribed in tradition of the
Prophet Mohamed. The Islamic penal code call these corbel banishments (Had), which means limit or maximum. In Legal terms it means it is the maximum punishment prescribed. In another word, the maximum flogging prescribed in Islamic law is 100 lashes with soft straps or small branches. In addition flogging was prescribed only in the above three situations.
Saudi Arabia however has expanded the use of flogging beyond what is prescribed in Islam to penalize persons such as, rowdy high school students and political dissidents. The Saudi practice of flogging victims thousands of times is beyond any previous Islamic tradition in 1400 years of Islam, and is only practiced in the Kingdom. Surpassing the `Had" limit of 100 lash is in violation of Islamic rules, according to prominent Shia and Sunni Muslim clerics contacted by the institute.
Ismaili Yam Tribe leader Shaikh Ahmed Turki Al-Saab, 42, was sentenced to torture by floggings 1200 times and seven years in prison at Najran city court (South) on Tuesday April, 23, 2002, less than four months after his statements to the Wall Street Journal.
Shaikh Mahdi Theeb Al-Mahaan, 50, Ismaili cleric was arrested prior to the April 23, 2000 government attack on the main Ismaili mosque in Najran. Al-Mahan was charged with sorcery and sentenced for three years and 3000 lashes. He was released in early January from Al-Malaz prison in Riyadh.
A court in Jeddah sentenced a Saudi man 4750 floggings for having sex with his sister-in-law. (Al-Iqtisadia newspaper, January 1, 2002).
Tools of Flogging
Islamic law calls for using soft leather straps, robes, and small branches for executing such lashings. Flogging is done for the purpose of humiliation not injury or torture. The government has exceeded these Islamic limitations by using ? wooden sticks or metal cables and canes that cause injury, skin and bone damage, extremes pain and bleeding.
The execution of lashing as Islamic code prescribes is done with mild force. The arm of the executer (the person holding the strap) should not by lifted high enough to expose his armpit. The tradition calls for holding a Koran underneath the armpit while executing a lashing to prevent harsh force from being applied. Lashing must be light and shouldn't break skin, cause bleeding, and break bones. Lashing according the Head of Islamic Figh Council of America, DR. Taha Jaber Al-Alwani and AyotAllah Syed Mortaza Shirazi, is meant to humiliate and send a message not to torture, injure flesh and destroy skin.
Due to the work of international organizations on torture in Saudi Arabia, the government took several steps to shield the practice of torture.
Methods of torture have shifted from sever beatings and electric shocks which have caused deaths and physical markings to less obviously physical means, but equally cruel methods. The victims are blindfolded during torture sessions.
It has also taken measures to hide the identity of torturers by giving perpetrators of torture numbers instead of using their real names. Salah Al-Mehtrish Al-Otaibi has been used officer # 118 in his dealing with prisoners instead of his real name. Al-Otaibi is notorious interrogator in Dammam Mabahith headquarters.
Recommended Action:
Public:
Contact your local representatives to express your objection to torture in Saudi Arabia. Ask your government to make torture a permanent agenda item in all talks between your government and the Saudi officials.
Call and write the provided address below of Saudi embassies and officials.
Governments:
Make torture a permanent agenda item in all talks with Saudi officials.
Make public statements to object to torture in Saudi jails.
Require all Saudi security and military officials to answer questioners about torture when applying to visas.
Ban all Saudi officials accused of torture from visiting your country, and publish their names.
Investigate torture cases and claims.
Offer grants to Saudi torture victims for treatment and rehabilitation.
Hold workshop on torture at your embassy in Riyadh fro Saudi public.
Ask Interior minister Prince Naif, who is currently in Geneva to return the body of Mohamed Al-Hayek to his family for burial.
Useful Addresses:
Send your Faxes directly to interior minister Prince Naif who is currently in Geneva, Switzerland, and ordered the arrest. FAX: 41-22- 758- 0000
Call Adel Al-Jubair at the Saudi Embassy in Washington DC. USA.
Phone: 202-342-3800 Ext. 3000
601 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington DC 20028
Call prominent Saudi lawyer Dr. Salah Al-Hujailan to ask him to represent Al-Saab. His number is: 966-1- 479-2200.
Time Differences: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia + 7 hours - Geneva + 5 hours. All time Eastern.
? www.saudiinstitute.org
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Saudi Institute
Religious Freedom in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
Focus on Citizens
Under embargo
Until 30 January, 2001
P.O. Box 344
McLean, VA 22101
Tel: (703) 383-3863
E-mail: saudiinstitute@hotmail.com
WWW: http://www.saudiinstitute.org
Introduction
Saudi Arabia this year witnessed many acts of religious intolerance by the government and several religious figures. The most prominent event was the attack on the main Ismaili mosque in the southern city of Najran, the closure of several Shia mosques and communty halls (husayniahs), the arrest of several Shia clerics, and the proliferation of hateful religious web sites that promote sectarian hatred. This report discusses the situation of Sunni and Shia religious minorities in Saudi Arabia and the limitations placed by the government on the free expression and exercise of their beliefs.
I. Minorities, an Overview:
Saudi Arabia has several religious minorities. The Hanbali sect, the official sect endorsed by the state, is dominant only in the Central region. The Shafey, Maliki and Hanafi sects dominate in the Western region of the country. The Shia Jafaris dominate the Eastern region with some Shafeis and Hanbalis. The Southern region has a mix of Shia Ismailis, Shia Zaidis and some Hanbalis.
The Official Hanbali Sect:
The sect is probably the largest of all sects in the country and the most powerful. It is the official sect of the state and the religious institution. Hanbalis are concentrated in the Central Province (Najd) and number in the millions. The Mufti and all judges are always selected among Hanbali sect. Although the government endorses the sect, it is subject to a tighter official control than any other sect.
Sunni Minorities:
1. The Shafey Sect:
The Shafey sect is one of the four major schools in Sunni Islam. Shafeis were the numerical majority in the kingdom until few decades ago. They constitute the majority in the Western Province (Hijaz). Their numbers are believed to be in the millions (1).
Shafey religious institutions have been slowly wiped out by the Najdi-dominated Hanbali sect. In the past, renowned Shafey clerics such as Zaini Dahlan attracted followers from around the Muslim world (2). Nowadays Hanbali zealots refer to Shafeis as Sufis. Sufism is banned in the country. Their numbers, especially in the Eastern province, have been diminished over the past years. Shafeis are not allowed to lead prayers in Makkah and Madina as they historically were. One of the Shafey prominent figures is the former information minister Dr. Mohamed Abdu Yamani.
2. The Maliki Sect:
Like Shafeis and Hanafis, they are concentrated in Hijaz especially in Makkah, where their leader Shaikh Mohamed Alawi AlMaliki resides. They also face attacks from Hanbali religious zealots. Several government-financed books were written by Hanbali clerics to attack Shaikh AlMaliki accusing him of Sufism and apostasy. Algerian-born Shaikh Abu Baker AlJazairi, who worked as a speaker at the Prophet's mosque and a teacher at the Islamic University in Madina, attacked Shaikh AlMaliki in several speeches and in at least one book (3). Shaikh Abdullah Bin Manee, a high ranking judge and a member of the Council of Senior Ulma, wrote a book calling AlMaliki an apostate and a religouse deviant. The late Grand Mufti, Shaikh AbdulAziz Bin Baz, wrote the book's forward (4).
When AlMaliki attempted to teach at the Grand Mosque in Makkah like his father and grandfather, the Council of Senior Ulma barred him (5). He doesn't have a mosque to pray and has to publish his books abroad, mainly in Egypt. Malikis are not allowed to lead prayers or give sermons in the Grand Mosque or the Prophet's Mosque in Madina as they historically were. One of the Maliki prominent figures is the former oil minister Ahmed Zaki Yamani.
3. The Hanafi Sect:
Hanafis are the smallest of the Sunni sects, and their religious institutions don't exist anymore. Because they share geographical and religious proximity to Shafey and Maliki sects, they tend to depend on them for religious instruction. There are no known Hanafi clerics.
Shia Minorities:
The Late Ismaili Dayee
Shaikh Hussein AlMakrami
1. Ismaili Sect
Shia Ismailis are concentrated in the Southern region of Najran. Almost the entire Yam tribe is Ismaili. Their present leader, known also as AlDayee, is Shaikh Hussain Bin Ismail AlMakrami. Their numbers vary from 200,000 to one million according to different sources. Discrimination against them has increased in the past few years after the oponitemnt of the current governor, Prince Mishaal Bin Saud (6). Ismailis are prevented from using their distinctive prayer call anywhere, including in their own mosques.
2. Jafari Sect:
Shia Jafaris constitute the majority in the Eastern Province. They also have big communities in Madina and Wadi Fatima and smaller communities in Jeddah and Riyadh. Their number is a matter of dispute, and range from 900,000 to 2 million. They are probably the most active minority in the country struggling with the government for their rights. Their situation receives most of the attention given to minorities in the Kingdom.
3. Zaidi Sect
They are concentrated in the southern cities of Asir, Najran, Jeddah and Yunbo. There are no known Zaidi mosques or any organized religious institutions; Saudi Zaidis rely on Yemeni Zaidis for spiritual guidance. Their number is not known and they tend to hide their faith in Sunni dominated cities. The government confiscated the Zaidi mosque in Najran three years ago, and installed a Hanbali Imam to lead prayers in it.
Hidden Shia
Extreme anti-Shia feelings and discrimination in predominantly -Sunni cities compels many Shia of all sects to hide their faith. The native Najdi Shia community in Riyadh is not known to residents of the city. I had the chance to meet a famous artist from that community.
Many Shia from Madina Asir and Najran live in Jeddah and other cities and don't declare their faith. This environment led to some conversions to the Sunni sect. There were also many reports of Sunnis converting to Shiasm secretly (7). A member of the royal family has secretly adopted Shiasm recently (8).
II. Government Control of Religious Institutions
Mosques:
The country has 37,850 mosques, according to the ministry of Endowments. The government builds most mosques. Mosques built by private citizens must be handed over to government control. The government has also financed the construction of over 1600 mosques around the world, including the United States (9).
Shia Ismailis, Jafaris, and Zaidis are not allowed to build mosques. Most of their existing mosques date back to the Turkish rule and are privately constructed. There are no Zaidi mosques. There are also no exclusively Shafey or Maliki mosques.
The government appoints the Imams in all Sunni mosques and controls most of their activities. It's believed that all sermons (kutbah) in Sunni mosques come from the ministry of Islamic affairs. The sermons in the two holy mosques (AlHaramain ASharefain) in Makkah and Madina also must be pre-approved by the Ministry of Islamic affairs (10).
Shaikh Saud AlShuraim, one of the Grand Mosque speakers, was suspended from delivering sermons after he criticized efforts to broaden tourism in the country. Also, Imams in Sunni mosques are obliged to pray for the king (11). This year a ban was enforced on Qonoot, lifting the hands during prayers, after many Imams were praying for Chechen victory against Russia.
Shia Jafaris in Madina, a substantial minority in the city, have no mosques. The government destroyed their mosque and husayniah (community center) decades ago. They maintain underground mosque(s)in the forest outside the city or pray in the basements of private homes (12).
Imam AlHussain mosque in AlBattalia in the Eastern Province was shut down in April. It's believed the mosque was built using a home permit. Most Shia mosques built since the foundation of Saudi Arabia were built as homes but slowly converted to mosques (13).
Shia Ismaili mosques are closed by police on Eid day whenever the Ismaili Eid differs from the government Eid. Ismailis use different methods than the official religious institution to determine Eid.
Husayniat
Husayniah is a Shia religious and social institution that performs the function of a community center. Religious sermons, weddings and funerals are usually held at husayniahs. They are illegal in the country and are usually built using home permits.
This year, seven husayniahs were closed in AlAhsa region during Muhharam commemorations. They include AlQaim and AlMojtaba in AlMubaraz, AlRassol Al-Adam in AlBatalia, AlMortada and Azzahhra in AlGarn, and AlAskari in AlAndalus (14). There were also several closures of home-based sermons in AlAhsa and AlJesh, and several homeowners were jailed for several months for holding these sermons at their homes. One example is Naser AlMorey from AlAhsa.
Wedding Halls and the Qudayh Tragedy
Wedding halls are widespread in Saudi cities and towns with one exception, Qateef city and the surrounding Shia areas. Also, Qateef strangely dosen't have any hotels. This is the result of a ban imposed by the minister of interior Prince Naif over 15 years ago to prevent Shia from using the halls to organize religious and communal gatherings, such as weddings.
The increasing population and dwindling number of husayniahs made large tents the only option available for wedding parties. This resulted in the largest tragedy in Saudi Arabia in the past several years, the tragedy of Qudayh.
On 28 July 1999, fire engulfed a wedding tent killing 76 women and children and injuring dozens at Qudayh city in Qateef region (15). Prince Mohamed Bin Fahd, the governor of the province who lives 20 minutes away did not visit the site of the tragedy or the families of the victims, as common around the world. In contrast, Prince Na?f visited the survivors and the site of an accidental explosion near Jeddah that killed four children on 29 July 2000(16). On the other hand, Crown Prince Abdullah sent a message of condolences to the families of the Qudayh victims. It was reported that he donated a plot of land to build the first wedding hall in Qateef.
The Site of Qudayh Fire
The Funerals of Some Victims
Religious Shrines
The country had many shrines at the beginning of the 20th century, but most if not all have been demolished since the foundation of Saudi Arabia.
In 1925, government forces demolished the Baqee cemetery in Madina, which holds the graves of many historical Islamic figures and is holy to Shafey, Maliki and Shia sects. Late King Hussain visited the Baqee cemetery during his last trip to the city. Also, several Islamic sites were destroyed including the houses of Prophet Mohamed in Madina. In Makkah the shrine of the Prophet's first wife was also demolished.
Several columns in the Grand Mosque dating back to the 7th century were also removed. The government demolished the shrine of Prophet Elisha in AlAwjam west of Qateef decades ago.
The Baqee Shrine in Madina before 1925
Part of the Baqee Today. These are tombs of some Islamic figures.
The Tomb of Prophet Elisha in Awjam City in Eastern Province
Clerics
Several clerics from various minority sects remain in jail. The longest held is Shaikh Saeed AlZuair, a Hanbali cleric, who is imprisoned at AlHair maximum-security prison outside of Riyadh. He was arrested six years ago.
Shaikh AbdulLatif Mohamed Ali, Shaikh Saeed AlBahaar, and Shaikh Habeeb Hamdah among other Shia clerics from the Eastern Province have been in jail four years without charge.
Shaikah Mohamed AlKhayat, an Ismaili cleric was arrested while teaching in AlMansorah mosque in Najran 23 April 2000, and accused of sorcery. His arrest triggered clashes between the Ismaili community and security forces that left at least six dead and 600 jailed. A report suggested that Shaikh AlKhayat was forced into confessing on tape to sorcery after his arrest (17).
Shaikh Hassan AlKhawildi, 40, a well-known Shia cleric from Safwa, was suspended in May after mentioning in his sermon the reprimand of some Shia women teachers who wore black to school on Ashura day. Traditionally, Shia women wear black during the months of Muhharam and Safar.
S. Saeed Zuair
S. AbdulLatif Ali
S. Hassan AlKhawildi
Other clerics who remain on suspension are Shaikh Ayed AlQarni, a Hanbali cleric from Riyadh who has been barred for several years. Shaikh Ali AbdulKarim AlAwwa, a Shia cleric from Awamia has been barred from any religious activities for more than 10 years. Also Shaikh Jafar AlMobarak from Safwa was banned from leading prayers or teaching religion to children and became a fisherman three years ago after his release from prison (18).
On 9 July 2000, Shaikh Safar AlHawali and Naser AlOmar, both Hanbalis, were allowed to start teaching purely religious texts again. Both were released from prison last year after five years of imprisonment for their political opinions. Naser AlOmar is the author of the anti-Shia memo (Waqe AlRafidah fe Belad Attawheed), the Rejectionists in the Land of Unitarianism. The memo was written in 1992 to the Council of Senior Ulma calling on the government to destroy all Shia husayniahs, arrest Shia clerics, and fire all Shia government employees(19).
III. Government Control of Education and Culture
Education
The General Directory for Woman's Education is one of the most anti-Shia institutions in the country. Shia women teachers are not allowed to teach religious subjects or hold positions such as, school principals, guidance counselors, and university professors. The General Directory for Women's Education has rejected all Shia applications to build private girls schools.
Ahmed Al-Zahrani, a Sunni teacher at Yarmook boy elementary school in Safwa told Shia 5th and 6th graders that they worship stones instead of God. Parents called the principal but the teacher was not admonished. In April 2000, the department of education in the Shia-dominated Eastern Province nominated 47 guidance counselors, none where Shia.
Religious Education
The government prevents the teaching of non-Hanbali religious texts in schools and universities. Shafey, Maliki and Shia views are not represented in religious education. Non-Hanbali clerics are not allowed to teach their faith even in private. Most Shia Jafari clerics were educated abroad in Iran, Iraq and Syria. Syed Munaeer AlKhabaz, a Shia cleric from Qateef was arrested December 1999 and released after his return from Iran where he was studying (20).
Religious Universities
There are eight universities in the country, three of which are predominantly religious. Imam Mohamed Bin Saud University in Riyadh and Islamic University in Madina refuse to admit Shia Jafari or Ismaili students or hire Shia faculty or staff. Naser AlQafari wrote his doctorate thesis at Imam Mohamed Bin Saud University on Shia Jafaris, and referred to them using the derogatory term Rafidah (rejectionists of religion). The thesis was later published using government funds (21).
School Textbooks
The government controls religious education in public and private schools from first grade through university. All religious and history curriculums are written according to the Wahhabi interpretation of the Hanbali sect. No other Sunni or Shia opinions are infused in those texts. In the past years, textbooks referred to many religious practices by Shia, Shafeis and Malikis, such as celebrating the birthday of the Prophet, as innovation in religion (bedah). There are new textbooks for the coming school year but not yet available for our review.
King Endowment and Prizes:
Manea Al-Jehani
King Fahd donates money to Hanbali religious institutions and mosques only. The king donated several million dollars this year to several religious projects and institutions inside and outside the country, like a religious university in Pakistan. There is no evidence of the king giving mone to Shafey, Maliki or Shia religious institutions or projects ever. (22)
The most prestigious prize in the country is the King Faisal Prize, which is awarded annually in several categories like service to Islam, medicine and literature. It has been awarded since 1979 to over 110 people from 31 countries, including the United States. There were no Shia winners ever in any category (23). There was only one Shia nominee, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the famed Islamic philosopher and professor at George Washington University in USA. He was notified of winning the prize in 1979 but later the prize was withdrawn with no explanation.
Prince Mohamed Bin Fahd, the governor of the Eastern Province awarded Dr. Manea Al-Jehani his first prize for charitable work. Dr. Al-Jehani is the head of World Muslim Youth Association (WAMY) and a member of the consultative council. WAMY publishes anti-Shia books that claim Shiasm to be a Jewish conspiracy against Islam. These books are published in several languages and distributed for free. (24) WAMY is financed by government funds and maintains an office in Washington.
Names
The interior ministry controls citizen's names through the civil record administration. Names that are not suitable to the official religious institution are banned.
Many Shia citizens were forced to change their names, especially in the past few years. Names used exclusively by Shia, such as AbduliNabi, AbdulRassol, AbdulHussain, are all banned. Saudi Media also don't use these names such as the name of famouse Kwaiti comidian AbdullHussain AbdulReda, whos named is changed to Hussain Redah.
In 1992 a new directive was issued restricting more names. This directive banned names derived from the Koran such as Iman and Sura and are acommonly used by Shafey, Maliki, and Shia citizens (25).
Descendents of the Prophet Mohamed, commonly referred to as Sada or Ashraaf are banned from using their titles in identification cards or official documents. All neighboring countries allow them usage of these titles.
Books
There is a ban on importing religious books that are not accepted by the official religious institution. Shia and Sufi religious books are banned and confiscated upon arrival. Fines, lashes or prison are possible punishments. Several Shia youths were arrested in Awamia city for selling Shia books from their homes. Ahmed AlHamad was identified among the detainees
Libraries of Saudi universities do not contain Shia books or books by Maliki clerics, like Shaikh Mohamed Alawi AlMaliki. He publishes his books secretly in the country or in Egypt or Lebanon, and distributes them himself because bookstores cannot legally sell them.
In contrast, anti-Shia books are available in the country and are sold legally and freely. Some are even printed by government institutions and distributed for free. All Saudi libraries stock anti-Shia books. Shaikh Hassan AlSaffar, a leading Shia cleric, was able to publish only one book. He also maintains a web site (26).
Music
Religious songs applauding the Prophet Mohamed (Madeeh) and commonly used by Malikis and Shafeis in the Western Province and Egypt are banned. The family of the late famous Saudi singer Talal AlMadah worked in religious singing. Shia religious songs used during commemorations and known as Noha or Aza are also banned. There were many arrests of religious singers in the Eastern Province (Shayaleen) this year. The vice-governor Prince Saud Bin Na?f reportedly ordered these administrative arrests that lasted between two to six months (27).
Religious Holidays
The government recognizes only two holidays, Eid AlFitr (after Ramadan) and Eid Aladha (After Haj). Other religious holidays like Prophet Mohamed's birthday, celebrated by Shafey, Maliki and Shia sects are not allowed nor acknowledged by local media (28). Hijazi citizens celebrate the birthday of Prophet Mohamed (Mawled) in secret.
Shia holidays like Ashura and others commemorating the death of Prophet Mohamed, his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali are all officially banned. Skipping work or school to attend religious activities can lead to discipline or termination. Shia teachers are not allowed to take the day off work during Shia religious holidays. In Safwa, several teachers at the Fourth Middle School for girls (AlMatwasta AlRabiah) were reprimanded by the principal for wearing black and sent home to change (29) Also several boys were beaten by a teacher in Deraar Elementary School in Safwa, and were sent home to change. (30)
The Grayqaan Celebration
Ismailis are prevented from attending Eid prayers when their Eid day differs from the state-declared days. Police cars in Najran prevent the opining of any Ismaili mosques if the official Eid day was before or after the official Eid day. Shia Ismailis and Jafaris independently decide their own Eid days. Ismailis use astronomical calculations to determine their Eid day, while the official religious institution use moon sighting to decide the Eid.
Also banned is the traditional festivity known as (Grayqaan) and celebrated by both Shia and Sunnis in all Gulf countries. During the festival children knock on doors and collect treats while singing traditional songs and wearing traditional clothes.
Internet
King Abdul Aziz City for Science Technology regulates Internet access in the country, and blocks web sites for moral, political and religious reasons. Numerous religious Shia sites are blocked while anti-Shia sites propagating the murder and expulsion of Shia citizens are freely accessible. Such sites like (sahab.net and muslm.net) are full of derogatory terms that are used against Shia by some Hanbali religious zealots, such as Rafidah, (Rejectionist).
They also propagate accusations that Shiasm is a Jewish conspiracy, and that Shia hold sexual parties in husayniahs during Ashura commemorations.
Following a fatwa by the Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz AlShaikh permitting hacking "suspicious" web sites, a flurry of hackers attacked and disabled many Shia sites. (31) This has been referred to as "Cyber Jihad."
The Muft, Shaikh
AbdulAziz AlShaikh
The fatwa by the Grand Mufti
allowing the hacking of suspicious web sites
Examples of Shia sites hacked by Hanbali zealots:
reach.to/etehamat
www.hajr.com
www.shialink.org
www.danafajr.org
www.alhaq.com
Examples of blocked Shia sites:
www.rafed.net
www.alhaq.com
www.shialink.org
www.karbala.com
www.aqaed.com
Examples of sites promoting sectarian hatred which are accessible from the country:
rafidha.hypermart.net
www.sahab.net
www.ansar.org
www.alsalafyoon.com
www.khayma.com/najran
IV. Discriminatory Laws and Legal Practices
Prisons
Although Shia are a minority in the country, over 95% of prisoners held for political or religious reasons are Shia. The majority of those prisoners are Shia Ismailis, 500, followed by Shia Jafaris, 85. There are four Shia prisoners who have been missing since 1996. Several released Shia prisoners reported that belonging to the Shia sect was among the charges they faced. During interrogations, Shia and Sunni differences were discussed and prisoners were asked to become Sunni in exchange for reduced charges and sentences. Imprisoned clerics were asked to stop religious activities and seek other business.
Shaikh Jafar AlMobarak who was released in 1997 abandoned his religious role and became a fisherman due to repeated imprisonment. Discrimination against Shia was also obvious in prison. A former Shia prisoner said, "Sunni political prisoners were treated like guests and were not tortured, unlike Shia" (32).
Judges:
All judges in the country are graduates of religious institutions like Imam Mohamed Bin Saud, and are Hanbalis. There are no Maliki, Shafey or Shia judges in the country. Judge Fuad AlMajid in Qateef, who sentenced Sadiq Mallallah to death for apostasy in 1993 following an argument remains in his position (33). The head of Najran court, Mohamed AlAskari, was reportedly behind the attack on AlMansorah Ismaili mosque on April 23. He was visited at his home by Prince Na?f, the interior minister in June. (34). The judge of Sharoorah city near Najran refused to approve marriage licenses for several Ismaili men to Sunni girls.
Travel Ban:
Sources estimate that over 6000 Shia in the Eastern Province and Madina are banned from leaving the country. Passports are seized without judicial process. Reasons for seizure vary from traveling to Iran to unknown causes, such as the case of Fatima AlJarash from Qateef. Numerous children were included in travel bans. Several hundred people got their passports back this year, again for unknown reasons (35).
Religious Violence:
The Holiday Inn in Najran
where 4 Ismaili
citizens where killed
On April 23, 2000, Najran witnessed the most violent attack on a religious minority this year. According to several Ismaili witnesses and news reports the incident started with an attack by the religious and secret police (Mabahith) supported by the religious police (Hay'a) on AlMansoorah mosque, the main Ismaili mosque in the city.
The attack was made to arrest Shaikh Mohamed AlKhayat, an Ismaili cleric from Yemen who was teaching some Ismaili citizens at the mosque. An exchange of fire occurred in front of the Holiday Inn after the local governor, Prince Mishael Bin Saud, refused to meet with the protesters who were demanding the release of Shaikh AlKhayat(36).
Mishael Bin Saud,
governor of Najran
Four Ismaili citizens and two soldiers died in the clashes that lasted 30 hours. An army unit was deployed 10 hours after the incident and withdrew five days later. A teenage boy, Ibn Shqaih, and a deaf man, Ibn Natash were identified among the victims. Over 600 Ismailis were arrested following the clashes and 500 remain in jail (37).
In another incident, the body of Shia prayer caller Ali AlMalblab, 70, was returned to his family and buried one year after his death. AlMalblab was killed by religious police inside their headquarters November 1998 in AlJaffer (Eastern Province). His family wrote to Prince Na?f and Crown Prince Abdullah and got no response or compensation. The killers of AlMalblab were transferred to AlOyoon headquarters as punishment for the killing.
Collective Punishment
It seems that collective punishment is reserved to religious minorities and not used against tribal or regional groups. For example, hundreds of Shia Ismailis were demoted, fired and transferred from Najran after the clashes of April. At least 70 Ismaili teachers were transferred from Najran to the Northern Province August 9, 2000. No Ismaili students were accepted at military colleges this year, unlike the past years (38). Similary collective puishment isused against the Shia Jafaris.
1. Interview with a Shafey doctor (2000), May.
2. Syed Hashim AlRefaey (unknown) Advice to our Brothers, the Scholars of Najd.
3. AlJazairi, Abu Baker (1986) "They Came Running, Wait the Propagators of Deviousness."
4. Bin Manee, Abdullah Bin Suliman (1983) "A Dialogue with AlMaliki to Reject his Sins and Deviousness."
5. Syed hashim AlRefaey, Op Cit.
6. Interview with an Ismaili community leader (2000) July.
7. Interview with a Shia citizen no.1 (2000) July.
8. Interview of a Shia businessman, formerly Sunni (1999).
9. AlRiyadh newspaper (2000) Sunday May 14, No.11647.
10. Interview with a Hanbali citizen (2000) July.
11. Interview with a former Hanbali prisoner (2000) August
12. Interview with a Shia citizen no. 2 (2000)
13. Interview with a Shia prisoner, (2000) May.
14. The Committee to Defend Human Rights in the Arabia Peninsula.(1999) Communiqu? # 87.
15. www.saihat.org
16. AlJazirah newspaper (2000) Sunday, July 30, #10167
17. Interview with an Ismaili citizen (2000)
18. Interview with a Shia citizen no. 3 (2000)
19. AlOmar, Naser (1992). (Waqe AlRafidah fe Belad Attawheed) The Rejectionists in the Land of Unitarianism.
20. The Committee to Defend Human Rights in the Arabia Peninsula, Op. Cit.
21. AlQafari, Naser (1981) The Tenants of Shia Sect.
22. AlJazirah newspaper (2000). July 27, no. 10164. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
23. AlRiyadh newspaper (2000) Sunday May 14, No.11647.
24. Ismaeel, Saeed (1995) The Difference Between the Shi'ites and the Majority of Muslim Scholars.(WAMY).
25. Interview with a Shia citizen no.1 (2000) July
26. www.saffar.org
27. Interview with a Shia prisoner, (2000) May.
28. Interview with a Shafey doctor (2000), May.
29. Interview with a Shia citizen no.1 (2000) July.
30. Interview with a Shia elementary student (2000) July
31. AlDawa Magazin (2000) May 11. # 1741
32. Interview with a Shia prisoner, (2000) May.
33. Ibid. 32.
34. AlRiyadh newspaper. (2000) Sunday 30 July, no11724.
35. Interview with a Shia citizen no. 3 (2000)
36. Interview with Ismaili community leader (2000) July.
37. Interview with an Ismaili citizen (2000)
38. Ibid. 37.
39. AlRiyadh Newspaper (2000) Friday 07 July No.11701 Year 37
40. Rahim, Rend; Fuller, Graham (1999) The Shia Arabs, The Forgotten Muslims
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