... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
has for the first time broadcast the "confessions" of a jihadist who returned from Syria, as the Mohammedan kingdom distances itself from Islamist forces of Evil in that country's conflict.
Sulaiman al-Subaie, 25, who grew popular in his homeland for his posts on video-sharing app Keek, reportedly joined the most radical group fighting in Syria, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
(ISIL), last August.
"The situation in Syria is not as portrayed in the media," Subaie said in a rare interview aired on Saudi television late Wednesday.
"What is amazing is that Saudis are killing fellow Saudis in the fighting between ISIL and Al-Nusra Front," the Al-Qaeda franchise in Syria.
ISIL, disavowed by Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-
Zawahiri... Formerly second in command of al-Qaeda, now the head cheese, occasionally described as
the real brains of the outfit.Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area. That is not a horn growing from the middle of his forehead, but a prayer bump, attesting to how devout he is...
, has been accused by rebels battling Syrian
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Supressor of the Damascenes...
's troops of seeking to consolidate power rather than fight the regime, and even of serving the regime's interests.
Fierce festivities between ISIL and opposition fighters broke out in early January, after accusations that the radical group was abusing both civilians and rival rebel forces.
The fighting has left hundreds dead and created openings for regime advances in some areas.
Subaie said in his "confessions" that the death of his brother, a jihadist, as well as "pictures of dead Syrian children" had prompted him to join the war.
"I went to Qatar, from where I traveled to Turkey" before being led into Syria with the help of a smuggler.
He wanted to join Al-Nusra Front but "upon my arrival, I was told that I have now become a member of ISIL," he said.
Subaie decided to quit the group after realizing that his Twitter account, followed by thousands in Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
, was being used to broadcast "messages inciting" violence against rulers and holy mans in Saudi Arabia.
He fled back to Turkey and returned to the kingdom, where he is being held.
There are no official figures on the numbers of Saudis who have joined jihadist ranks in Syria, but they are estimated at several hundred.
The Sunni-majority conservative kingdom has been a key backer of the three-year revolt against Assad's regime, which is dominated by the Alawite offshoot of Shiite Islam.
But King Abdullah last month decreed jail terms of up to 20 years for citizens who travel to fight abroad, as the country struggles to deter young Saudis from becoming jihadists.