Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage: "Saudi Crackdown Encourages Iraq Jihad, Clerics Say
Sun August 31, 2003 12:58 PM ET
By Andrew Hammond
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi militants, facing a clampdown at home long demanded by Washington, are heading to Iraq for a holy war against the American 'Satan,' clerics and analysts say.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said last week that some of those attacking U.S. forces in Iraq are coming into the country from neighboring Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria."
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"Some clerics in the kingdom said a security crackdown by Saudi authorities on Muslim militants after deadly suicide bombings in Riyadh in May -- leading to bloody clashes and arrests -- was pushing militants to head to Iraq.
"Most youth think the only safe road is to go to Iraq. They are trapped between the international campaign against terrorism and this campaign at home. The only safe haven for them is to go to Iraq," said leading cleric Mohsen al-Awajy.
"We are hearing stories of families who get mobile phone messages from their sons saying they're going to Iraq."
Awajy said thousands of Saudi veterans of the war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, who at that time were supported by the government, were now being targeted.
Riyadh woke up to the problem of homegrown militancy after the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, blamed on Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group and carried out by mostly Saudi hijackers.
The crackdown intensified after the May bombings, which killed 35 people, including nine Americans. Authorities have arrested more than 200 militants believed linked to al Qaeda.
"In the Saudi street, people are not happy with the mass operation against former mujahideen, who were encouraged by the Saudi government. Without U.S. pressure, our own government would not be as harsh against their own people," Awajy said.
A Western diplomat said unlike with Afghanistan the Saudi authorities would do everything to stop wide-eyed young radicals from heading to Iraq.
"One thing is for sure, they won't encourage or export problems that they wouldn't want at home. Never again," he said, noting that prominent clerics have either discouraged jihad (holy war) in Iraq or kept silent on the matter."
Sun August 31, 2003 12:58 PM ET
By Andrew Hammond
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi militants, facing a clampdown at home long demanded by Washington, are heading to Iraq for a holy war against the American 'Satan,' clerics and analysts say.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said last week that some of those attacking U.S. forces in Iraq are coming into the country from neighboring Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria."
>>
"Some clerics in the kingdom said a security crackdown by Saudi authorities on Muslim militants after deadly suicide bombings in Riyadh in May -- leading to bloody clashes and arrests -- was pushing militants to head to Iraq.
"Most youth think the only safe road is to go to Iraq. They are trapped between the international campaign against terrorism and this campaign at home. The only safe haven for them is to go to Iraq," said leading cleric Mohsen al-Awajy.
"We are hearing stories of families who get mobile phone messages from their sons saying they're going to Iraq."
Awajy said thousands of Saudi veterans of the war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, who at that time were supported by the government, were now being targeted.
Riyadh woke up to the problem of homegrown militancy after the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, blamed on Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group and carried out by mostly Saudi hijackers.
The crackdown intensified after the May bombings, which killed 35 people, including nine Americans. Authorities have arrested more than 200 militants believed linked to al Qaeda.
"In the Saudi street, people are not happy with the mass operation against former mujahideen, who were encouraged by the Saudi government. Without U.S. pressure, our own government would not be as harsh against their own people," Awajy said.
A Western diplomat said unlike with Afghanistan the Saudi authorities would do everything to stop wide-eyed young radicals from heading to Iraq.
"One thing is for sure, they won't encourage or export problems that they wouldn't want at home. Never again," he said, noting that prominent clerics have either discouraged jihad (holy war) in Iraq or kept silent on the matter."
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