Something is Terribly Wrong with this Story

February 3, 2007

The official Saudi News Agency (aka mouth piece of prince nayef) reported that the government, in its efforts to crackdown on terrorists, arrested 10 men (9 Saudis and one foreigner) in Jeddah and Madinah for allegedly funding “suspicious bodies” and “luring Saudi citizens.” 

February 4, 2007

The lawyer of the 10 detainees, Bassim Alem, said that they have no link to terrorism and that they are reform activists who were recently warned by the Interior Minister to halt their activities and petitions. Alem named five of the detainees: Sulaiman Rushoudi, Essam Basrawy, Abdel-Rahman al-Shimary, Abdelaziz al-Khuraijy and Mousa al-Qarny.

February 5, 2007

BBC is reporting that the Saudi government is not issuing any information about the identities of the suspects. BBC’s Middle East analyst is saying that some Saudis suspect the terrorism charges are a pretext and that they were arrested for their political beliefs.

 

Just to put things in to context, one of the alleged terrorist funders, lawyer and human rights activist, Essam Basrawy was one of the defenders of Ali Al Domaini and other reformers who were sentenced for 9 years in prison for engaging in reform activities and signing a petition calling for the constitutional monarchy back in 2004. Al Domaini was later released by King Abdullah after his succession. This should give us an idea about the type of people who are accused of terrorist activities. 

Update, February 7: While the Saudi Media is shamefully silent (as usual), more Saudi bloggers are questioning the motives behind these arrests. 

داخل ساعة رملية: أنا مواطن غير محترم

عشرة .. يمولون الإرهاب..

التهمة المطبوخه و إعلامنا البائس

Saudi Jeans

We need to know the facts involved in this case, if those individuals are funding terrorism then proof should be established. Arbitrary detention, damaging the reputations of well known activists and the misuse of power can no longer be tolerated. Please write and share.

Comments

[Abu Sinan]

Nothing new here. The Saudi establishment has long cracked down on any moderate opposition whilst allowing the radical opposition to flourish.

Why? Because then they can honestly say that they cannot "reform" because the only opposition is the radical religious front.

No one seems to question the role of the establishment in making sure there is no moderate opposition.

[L. Wahhabi]

oy vey! "terrorists" hmph.

[Northern shewolf]

A case of the pot calling the kettle black: the real terrorists are within the state structure, busy spewing hatred, and the fundaments of extremist antiquated iron-clad rules that keeps women in virtual slavery, and everyone without the dignity of human and civic rights.
Oy vey indeed!

[Rasheed]

Hi Aya,

Did you see my article in the New York Times about Saudi Shiites? You should read it. Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/world/middleeast/05shiites.html?ex=1171342800&en=33bb31043350c60b&ei=5070

Cheers,

Rasheed

[Rasheed]

Arab News did a good story on the arrests on its front page. Here's the link: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=91796&d=5&m=2&y=2007.

Also, check out Faiza Ambah's story in today's Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/06/AR2007020601930.html?nav=emailpage

[Northern shewolf]

Thanks for the links Rasheed!