Excerpted from a long, informative article in Jerusalem Post. Link is via Zogbyblog, which has lots of other good stuff, too...
The latest sign of [the Shiites'] determination came this past Saturday, when they published a petition signed by almost 500 business, cultural and social leaders of the community. Addressed to the crown prince, the petition calls on the government to create a national committee to propose "urgent measures" to remove all discrimination against Shi'ites and other religious minorities.
The petition refers to the "historic changes in the region" presumably meaning the war to liberate Iraq and urges the authorities to "adapt to new circumstances."
Or let the circumstances adapt the world around them...
Concentrated in the oil-rich province of al-Sharkiyah, Saudi Shi'ites form a good part of the kingdom's urban middle class. They are also strongly present in the liberal professions and the private business sector. And, yet, when it comes to public positions, Saudi Shi'ites shine with their absence. Of the top 400 government positions, only one undersecretary of state is held by a Shi'ite. Of the 120 members of the all-appointed Saudi parliament (al-Majlis al-Shura), only two are Shi'ites.
I'm surprised there are that many...
Worse still, the official theological organs of the state, exclusively held by clerics from the Hanbali Sunni school of Islam, publicly castigate Shi'ites as non-Muslims. Courts, controlled by the Hanbali clerics, do not admit testimony by Shi'ites. The same clerics have banned marriages between Hanbali Sunnis and Shi'ites, and declared all Shi'ite marriages as illegal.
Hanbali is yet another name for wahhabi. The treatment of the Shias sounds rather like the way the Paks treat the Ahmadiyah sect, only without as many random killings...
The Shiites counter by insisting that the Hanbalis, often wrongly known as Wahhabis, do not represent the overwhelming majority that they claim. "Saudi Arabia is a far richer mosaic of religious beliefs than many people imagine," says a Jeddah scholar on condition of anonymity. Apart from duodecimains (twelvers), who share the same beliefs as Iranian and Iraqi Shi'ites, there are Ismaili (sevener) Shi'ites a majority in the Najran area and Zaydi Shi'ites of Yemeni origin all over the kingdom.
I'm aware of some of the differences between the Ismailis and the Iranian flavor of Shiism. I don't know anything about the Yemeni version, except that it exists...
But even the Sunni majority, some 70% of the population, is not monolithic. Hanafi and Shafei Sunnis are probably a majority in the Red Sea provinces of the kingdom. The situation has become more complicated because many heterodox individuals, and at times whole villages and towns, practice taqiyah or dissimulation to escape persecution and discrimination by the majority.
Kind of like Arabian Moriscos...
Saudi state policy towards the Shi'ites has varied between benevolent neglect and active repression. The late king Faisal ibn Abdel-Aziz removed many restrictions against the Shi'ites in the 1960s and enabled them to benefit from state educational and health services. In the 1980s agitators dispatched from Iran tried to mobilize Saudi Shi'ites in support of a Khomeinist version of their faith. They failed.
Bad move on their part...
But their presence gave the hard-line Hanbali clerics a pretext for seeking new restrictions on Shi'ites. Some Saudi Shi'ites fled into exile, mostly to Iran and Britain. In 1987, however, King Fahd ibn Abdel-Aziz persuaded most of the exiles to return home in exchange for reforms in favor of the Shi'ites. With the rise of militant Hanbalism, one version of which is represented by the fugitive terrorist Osama bin Laden, Shi'ites, including Ismailis and Zaydis, have emerged as the strongest supporters of the royal family.
Given the alternative, a wise move, lacking anything better...
The rationale for their support is that if the al-Saudi dynasty is toppled, its place would be taken by fanatics like bin Laden, who publicly state that Shi'ites must either convert to Hanbalism, leave the country or face death.
Kind of the heart of the wahhabi philosophy: "Do what we say or we'll kill you."
Some radical bin Ladenists have used the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq as a pretext for fomenting violence against the Shi'ites. They claim that the Taliban regime in Kabul collapsed because Afghan Shi'ites, the Hazara and the Badakhshani, cooperated with the American "forces of invasion." They also blame the quick fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Baghdad on Shi'ites, a majority of the Iraqi population.
I notice they don't dwell on the ineptitude of the forces facing us in either case...
Some hard-line preachers told mosque congregations that the ultimate aim of the Shi'ites is "to destroy Muslim Arab states in the interest of the US, Israel and Iran." Such is the hatred of the Hanbali clerics for Shi'ites that they have issued an edict that humanitarian aid collected for Iraq should not be distributed among Iraqi Shi'ites. "Let the Shi'ites of Iraq be fed by their masters: America, Iran and Israel," thundered one radical Sunni preacher, Sheikh Utba Ibn Marwan, in a Riyadh mosque last week.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
05/17/2003 08:24 pm ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[9 views]
Top|| File under:
Saudi Arabia has encountered a new Al Qaida splinter group said to have directed a series of bombing attacks against Western targets in the kingdom. The Islamic group is called Al Muwahidoun and led by Saudi insurgents who fought with Al Qaida against the United States in the war in Afghanistan in 2001. Islamic sources said the group recruited Saudi nationals who had fled Afghanistan and returned to the kingdom over the last 18 months. Al Muwahidoun is led by three Saudi nationals intent on establishing a group that would focus on Saudi Arabia. The Saudis were identified as Ali Bin Khadir Al-Khadir, Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Fahd and Ahmed Bin Hamoud Al-Khaldi. On Tuesday, the three placed their names on a communique issued by a new Islamic faction called Al-Mujahidoun Al Jazeera, or the "Holy Warriors of the [Arab] Peninsula." Saudi officials have acknowledged Al Muwahidoun and said this was one of a series of Al Qaida splinter groups that emerged over the last year. The officials said Al Muwahidoun is believed connected to the Al Qaida cell of 19 insurgents being sought by Saudi authorities and believed responsible for the suicide bombing attacks on Western residential complexes on early Tuesday. Officials said 15 insurgents were involved in the attacks.
Don't know if it's an affiliate or just a work-alike. Since Qaeda did claim credit, I'd guess it's an affiliate or will be soon...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
05/17/2003 11:10 am ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[15 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I'd say an affiliate. Or maybe AQ is starting franchises.
Posted by: Kathy K ||
05/17/2003 19:10 Comments ||
Top||
Kuwait has heightened security measures at vital installations and compounds housing scores of foreigners as a precautionary measure amid reports some al-Qaeda groups are freely moving in the region. These sources told Al-Anba the Interior Ministry has issued directives to the State Security Department, the Criminal Investigation and the Special Police Patrols Departments to intensify security and surveillance measures around embassies, hotels, airline offices and residential complexes housing westerners, particularly American and British citizens, in addition to malls and commercial complexes. The sources added a relatively large number of security patrols have been deployed on the country's borders to foil attempts by terrorists to enter the country, especially those who are wanted by Saudi authorities, to infiltrate into Kuwait. The heightening of security measures in the country were put in place after recent terrorist attacks in Riyadh.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
05/17/2003 10:23 am ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
The time for action against anyone who supports the kind of terrorism perpetrated on Monday night in Riyadh is now. They have to be hit hard at the core of their organization to put an end to their malicious ideals that are based on violence and intolerance. At the same time, we have to face up to the root causes that have created this trend. By looking around us we can identify some of these causes.
We can, too. Let's see if we identify the same ones...
There are also less obvious causes that infest the impressionable minds of our youngsters. When an elementary grade child expresses glee and no sorrow at the loss of a non-Muslim life because his teacher told him that they deserve it and that they are going to hell anyway. When a college student treats expatriates in this country as if they were sub-humans, especially manual laborers and domestic helpers.
You mean raising your children on hatred, and maturing them into the idea they're part of a Master Race might make them into hateful, arrogant bastards who're content with the idea of slaughtering innocents to attain their ends? Good point.
When some misguided souls in the mosques preach a message of hate and prejudice against anyone who does not conform to their understanding of what a Muslim is and how they should dress and look. These kinds of exclusionary attitudes feed on the subliminal message that itâs OK to attack anyone who does not believe in the same things you do. Well, itâs not OK and enough is enough.
Agreed. Now let's see you stop it. You were planning on stopping it, weren't you?
Not to praise myself, but whenever someone attacks non-Muslims I always tell them that one of my dearest friends in the United States is a Christian. I have a better friend in her than in many of my Muslim friends. After our years in college we stayed in touch and continued sharing our times of happiness and times of grief. Does that make me less of a Muslim?
Oh, yasss... Some of my best friends are [fill in inferior class here]...
When I was asked about Islam while I was studying in the US, I answered that the best way to know about Islam is to read about the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), noting that he is the best example for all of us to follow. When the right time and place for me to speak up about Islam presented itself, I did so to the best of my ability without giving off- the-cuff edicts about things I didnât know or wasnât sure about it. I didnât try to persuade everyone I met to convert to Islam, but that doesnât mean I did not correct some of his or her misconceptions about Islam by educating myself first. The Prophet said that a Muslim can teach with his good behavior what a preaching, praying Muslim cannot. Iâm not surprised if non-Muslims who live here do not believe that Islam is a religion of tolerance, seeing how we are many times unfriendly toward them, disrespectful and arrogant.
Maybe it's something in the water. Or something in people's heads, injected at an early age. Cause -> Effect...
I also donât blame non-Muslims abroad for having a negative impression of Islam, seeing how some of us behave when we are in their countries. Muslims everywhere are having a tough time defending their religion, feeling helpless and oppressed, but itâs no excuse to resort to violence, which only creates more violence and friction.
If they didn't engage in mindless violence then they wouldn't have occasion to have to defend their religion, would they? Nobody would care...
What is happening to the Palestinians under the brutal hands of the Israeli occupying forces is a disgrace for all humanity and not just Muslims, and the Palestinians have every right to defend their land. The Afghansâ fight for liberation from the invading Russians was legitimate, and our support for the freedom of Iraq and other nations under any kind of occupation, injustice and torture is a duty. However, there is a big difference between that kind of fighting and the kind of terrorism we saw in Riyadh. What we, people of the world, need is to relate to each other on a humanitarian level, regardless of religious differences, political motivations and economic interests.
I'm confused. The Paleostinians are the foremost practitioners of suicide boomings. The Afghan Islamists are attempting a war of assassination and harrassment against the Afghan gummint. And the Chechen Islamists suicide boomed twice in the the past week, killing as many as were killed in Riyadh. Where's the difference? I don't see it, but the writer appears to. Maybe I'm just not smart enough — but then, I'm not an aherent of the Master Religion...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
05/17/2003 10:18 am ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[17 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
It's to late to stop the 'go booms'. Unless something like I said before happens. Blow up some Imans and prince's palaces, about 5 or 6 via airmail. Destroy their whole estate hopefully with them in it. Then deny doing it. The next day hit several more and deny it. Repeat as neccesary or until fully browned. I hate it, but these sickies are to dangerous and the Arab street needs to see that their leaders are losers.
#2
I'd have to agree with Lucky. The preachers of hate are allowed to continue spewing venom, directing attacks via fatwas. I saw Adel Al-Jubair on Fox doing the "we've done everything possible" song and dance last nite. Pitiful...and have you ever noticed how much he looks like Great Gazoo from the flintstones? Must be the giant cranium
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/17/2003 12:21 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Lets see, "What we need is to relate to each other on a humanitarian level." I guess that means that we in the West turn a blind eye to the crazies and just hope that they get satiated before they get all of us? Maybe they all had bad childhoods and wet the bed until they were 15, so that makes it all OK. We'll just be patient and put up with the killings, maimings and pain and everything will be OK, because we are relating to each other.
#4
Frank G: You didn't read my comment last week, apparently. Adel looks like Atom Ant, especially when wearing his Saudi head dress. I don't know if the cranium is so big, as the rest of him is so miniatre. How 'bout it folks, any other suggestions? BTW, is Adel going to be on TV this Sunday morning?
Posted by: michael ||
05/17/2003 15:38 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Hey folks, c'mon. It's a POSITIVE thing that voices like this are being raised in Saudi Arabia. The writer is at least trying to get the SOME of the right message out. Is he saying everything we'd like to hear? No, but at least he's pointing out some of the real issues and wrongs in his part of the world.
That's progress and fairly courageous given where he's writing.
Posted by: R. McLeod ||
05/17/2003 16:41 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Michael - I can buy that. R McLeod - it's more important what the Princes do than what they say. A couple more need to have desert accidents while out on picnics, as well as the closing down of extremist mosques
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/17/2003 17:24 Comments ||
Top||
#7
The princes and other fat-assed do nothings need to clean up their act now, but I am afraid that they are too rotted out on the inside to save themselves.
Maybe hugs all around will help, d'ya think?
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/18/2003 0:25 Comments ||
Top||
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed said yesterday that the authorities in the region have stepped up security to prevent any terrorist attacks against Americans in the city. âWe have taken the matter seriously,â the governor said commenting on a US State Department warning Americans of a possible attack in Jeddah. âSecurity agencies in Jeddah have intensified their preparations to the maximum after the malicious terror attack in Riyadh,â Prince Abdul Majeed told Asharq Al-Awsat. âGod willing, our country will be protected from terrorist plans. But we will deal with the situation very seriously.â Prince Abdul Majeed rejected all forms of violence and extremism. âWe will not allow anybody to terrorize peaceful people. The Riyadh incident has angered the whole world. Itâs a terrorist act. Itâs perpetrators will be given stiff punishment,â he said.
They haven't cut any holy men's heads off yet, though...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
05/17/2003 09:58 am ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[9 views]
Top|| File under:
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
