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July 9, 2006
Saudi Arabia: Islamists Break Out Of Prison
News from Arab News states that six Saudi Islamists and one Yemeni have broken out of Malaz Prison in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia.
The news of the breakout was announced by the Saudi Interior Ministry yesterday, and the exact date of the escape was not given, other than that it happened "within a very recent period." The Ministry spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, said of the prisoners: "Some of them played a supporting role in deviant groups in the Kingdom."
The term "deviant" is usually applied to those plotting terrorism within the kingdom. Al-Turki said they were all followers of takfiri ideology, which originated mainly in North Africa. Takfiri Muslims believe in killing non-Muslims, rather than enslaving them under jizyah rules, where infidels traditionally paid a special tax to be allowed to live within Muslim societies. They do not always dress "Islamically" or follow usual Islamic codes when on a mission of "assassination". More information can be found here. The 9/11 bombers behaved in many ways as "takfiri" Islamists, shaving off beards, and giving the appearance of "blending in" to achieve their aims.
The fugitives are named as: Abdul Aziz Abdullah Sulaiman Al-Masoud, Osamah Abdul Rahman Sulaiman Al-Wihabi, Turki Hilal Sanad Al-Mutari, Ghazi Muhasan Al-Usami Al-Utabi, Abdul Aziz Mohammed Saleh Al-Falaj, Mohammed Abdul Aziz Al-Qahtani and the Yemeni Abdul Rahman Ta'ha Al-Hatar.
None of these names register on Google English language searches. Al Arabiya TV claims that Al-Wihabi is believed to have sheltered Younes Al-Hayari, who was top of Saudi Arabia's list of wanted terrorists. He was gunned down in the Al-Rawda District of Riyadh on July 4 last year.
Al-Hayari may even have been involved with the chain of command from Al Qaeda that authorised the 7/7 bombings in London. Last year the Saudis had warned Britain of an imminent terror attack, after tracing phone calls from Kareem al-Majati, an Al Qaeda chief in the Gulf region. A Saudi security official also said that calls from Majati's lieutenant and al-Qaeda's logistics expert, Younes al-Hayari, have also been traced to Britain.
The Yemeni who escaped from Malaz prison, Abdul Rahman Ta'ha Al-Hatar, is said by the Interior Ministry to have been an illegal immigrant residing in Saudi Arabia, who had arrived with his wife and daughter.
The fugitives had all been arrested at different times last year and their cases had been under review. The Ministry statement announced that: "Since they violated regulations, their cases will be withdrawn from the investigating committee and public prosecution and their trial procedures will be halted. If they do not return to the detention center, they will not be eligible for the amnesty granted by the king and will become wanted by security forces."
In June, King Abdullah had renewed an amnesty which he had first offered for a one month period in 2004.
The Interior Ministry advised anyone against assisting the fugitives and told anyone with relevant information of the men's whereabouts to call 990 or contact local officials.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at July 9, 2006 4:03 AM
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