Three Clerics to Be Tried Soon
By Abdullah Al-Oraifij — Okaz

THREE extremist clerics arrested last year for issuing fatwas that sought to incite violence are expected to go on trial soon, an insider source told Okaz.

Ali Al-Khudhair, Ahmed Al-Khaldi and Nasser Al-Fahd, known as Takfiris, recanted their fatwas on state television last year, claiming that they had seen their errors.

The Takfiri path, which they followed, is based on an extremist interpretation of Islam which labeled anyone, including Muslims who do not adhere to their school of thought, as infidels to be punished by death.

Minister of Interior Prince Naif has said he did not object to an open trial of the clerics.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Ministry of Interior is completing procedures for the trial.

He added that each of the clerics was carrying a gun and hand grenade when security authorities arrested them in Madina.

In what appeared to be a bid to shame the clerics, the source said the three used to travel between Madina and Riyadh and other areas wearing women s abayas.

Security forces arrested Khudhair and Khaldi on May 28, 2003 about two weeks after the bombings in Riyadh in raid of a residential villa in Madina s Iskan District. Fahd was arrested the following day when security forces raided another villa in Al-Azhari District.

The three clerics recanted their fatwas on TV after a long dialogue with some Ulema and preachers in Al-Hayer Prison in the southern part of Riyadh.

Those who carry out such acts are evil-doers who have deviated from the right path, Khudhair said on TV on November 17, 2003.

Khudair claimed he was sad and regretful over the blast at the Muhayya Housing compound.

Several days later, Fahd and then Khaldi also recanted.

The source said the clerics have been treated well during their 21-month detention.

Khudhair s eldest son said the Ministry of Interior has allowed him and the rest of his family to visit their father in Al-Hayer Prison several times.

The ministry pays a monthly salary to the families of the three detained clerics and provides them with medical treatment.

This article, originating in the Arabic daily Okaz is translated in The Saudi Gazette. It suggests that the government is taking action against clerics who promote extremism. It also shows how the Saudis approach the problem.

They give people a chance to back out of the corners they’ve put themselves into, but take action if that proves to no avail. Further, the take care of the wrong-doers’ families. This, at a minimum, removes the possibility of additional reasons to rebel. The accused are the ones who are put in a difficult situation, not their families.

If these trials are going to be public, it will be further object lessons for the public at large about what is acceptable and what is not. Certainly, this will be a story to follow.