Combating extremism: A brief overview of Saudi Arabia's approach

Middle East Policy

Volumn 15, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 111-142

  Ansary, Abdullah F ^a  

^a GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 44849112206     PISSN: 10611924     EISSN: 14754967     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4967.2008.00353.x     Document Type: Article

References (238)

1. Anton La Guardia, "Saudis Tackle Terrorists with the Gentle Art of Persuasion," Telegraph Online (April 25, 2006), http://www. telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/25/wsaudi25.xml.
2. King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, Fighting Fanaticism and Extremism, Second National Meeting, at http://www.kacnd.org/eng/ (last visited November 12, 2007).
3. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Initiatives and Actions Taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Combat Terrorism (December 2006), at http://www.saudiembassy.net/ReportLink/KSA%20WOT%20Report%20Dec06.pdf.
4. On May 12, 2003, suicide bombers attacked three residential compounds for foreign workers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 35 dead included 9 attackers, 7 other Saudis, 9 U.S. citizens, and one citizen each from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Philippines; over 200 were wounded. It was the first major attack on non-military U.S. targets in Saudi Arabia since the end of the first Gulf War. Saudi authorities arrested 11 al-Qaeda suspects on May 28. See Office of the Historian: Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Significant Terrorist Incidents, 1961-2003: A Brief Chronology (March 2004), at http://www.state.gOv/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/5902.htm.
5. Land Forces Symposium, Public Statement by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Ambassador to the United States (Georgia, February 28, 2006), at http://www.saudiembassy.net/ReportLink/Extremism-Report-Mar.-2006.pdf.
6. Compare Mitchell D. Silber and Arvin Bhatt, Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat (The New York City Police Department, August 2007), http://hsgac.senate.gov/_files/SanchezSilber.pdf.
7. "Confronting Extremism Move to the Internet and the Significant Role Played by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs...," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13631, October 19, 2005, http://www.alriyadh.com/2005/10/19/article101876.html.
8. "Concept Explained, Al-WaIa' wa Al-Bara' Loyalty and Disavowal," Islam Online, July 25, 2005, http://www.islamonline.net/ english/In_Depth/ViolenceCausesAlternatives/Articles/Topic02/2005/07/02.shtml.
9. See Ali Al-Qahtani, "85 Percent of the Security Prisoners Are in Their Mid 20s," Al-Watan Online, November 21, 2005, http://www.saudiinfocus.com/ar/forum/showthread.php?t=11214.
10. See Abdullah Al-Oraifig, "Followers of Bin Ladin and Mulla Omar Recanted Their Radical Views," AlRiyadh Online, Nov. 1, 2005, http://www.alriyadh.com/2005/11/01/section.main.htm;
11. David B. Ottaway, "Saudi Effort Draws on Radical Clerics to Combat Lure of Al-Qaeda," The Washington Post, May 7, 2006, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/06/ AR2006050601072_pf.html.
12. See Mishari Al-Zaydi, "An Interview with Sheikh Abdul-Mohsen Bin Nasser Al-Obeikan," Al-Sharq AlAwsat Online, May 24, 2005, http://almuttaqoon.com/index.php?showtopic=911;
13. Abdulwahab Al-Faisal, "30 Individuals Recanted, A Dialogue with Dr. Abdul-Salam Al-Sihaimi," Al-Madinah Online, Issue No. 147507, June 5, 2005, http://www.almadinapress.com/index.a...ticleid=147507.
14. Abdulwahab Al-Faisal, supra note 11.
15. "Ida'at: Turki Al-Dakheel Dialogue with Dr. Muhammad Al-Nijaimi," Al-Arabiya Net, April 28, 2006, http://www.alarabiya. net/save_print.php?save=1&cont_id=23324.
16. Abdulwahab Al-Faisal, supra note 11.
17. See "Takferieon: 90 Percent of Them Have Known Solid Religious Beliefs," Al-Watan Online, Issue 1879, November 21, 2005, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/index.asp?issueno-1879;
18. Khalid Al-Mushawwah, "A One Month Dialogue with a Previous Takfiri," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 2100, June 30, 2006, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/2006-06-30/first_page/first_page05.htm.
19. Abdulwahab Al-Faisal, supra note 11.
20. See "Ida'at: Turki Al-Dakheel Dialogue with Dr. Muhammad Al-Nijaimi," supra note 13;
21. Mishari Al-Zaydi, supra note 11.
22. Uriya Shavit, "Al-Qaeda's Saudi Origins," Middle East Quarterly, Fall 2006, http://www.meforum.org/article/999.
23. "Previous Saudi Jihadi Regretted Commending September 11 Attacks," Al-Arabiya Net, September 9, 2006, http://www.alarabiya. net/articles/2006/09/09/27314.html.
24. "Confessions of a Repentant Takfiri," Al-Jazirah Online, Issue No. 11236, Apr. 2003, http://www.aljazirah.com.sa/621319/ln27d.htm.
25. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13634, October 22, 2005, http://www.alriyadh. com/2005/10/22/article102437_s.html.
26. Christopher Boucek, "Extremist Reeducation and Rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia," Terrorism Monitor, August 16, 2007, http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/uploads/TM_005_016.pdf.
27. Khalid Al-Mushawwah, supra note 15.
28. Abdullah Al-Kiaid, "Cells and Organization Scandals," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13642, October 30, 2005, http://www.alriyadh. com/2005/10/30/article104209.html.
29. Sean N. Kalic, Combating a Modern Hydra: Al-Qaeda and the Global War on Terrorism (Combat Studies Institute Press, 2005), pp. 125-126.
30. "Manufacturing Death: The Dimension of Religious Speech of Al-Qaeda," Al-Arabiya Net, October 23, 2006, http://www.alarabiya. net/programs/2006/10/23/28484.html.
31. Khalid Al-Mushawwah, supra note 15.
32. Sean N. Kalic, supra note 25.
33. See "Several Officials Praise the Achievements of the Kingdom in the Fight against Extremism," Al-Jazirah Online, Issue No. 12435, October 15, 2006, http://www.al-jazirah.com.sa/2006jaz/oct/15/ln6.htm;
34. "AlRiyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (6)," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13635, October 23, 2005, http://www.alriyadh. com/2005/10/23/article102789_s.html.
35. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, "Al-Sakin'ah (Tranquility) Campaign Returns 478 Individuals to the Right Path," Okaz Newspaper Online, Issue No. 1900, August 30, 2006, http://www.okaz.com.sa/okaz/osf/20060830/ Con2006083043409.htm.
36. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
37. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (3)," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13632, October 20, 2005, http://ww.alriyadh. com/2005/10/20/article101984.html.
38. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
39. Khalid Al-Mushawwah, supra note 28.
40. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (3)," supra note 32.
41. "Dialogue Strikes Extremism and Takfir Ideology and Bring Youths Back Home," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13630, October 18, 2005, http://www.alriyadh.com:81/2005/10/18/article101723_s.html.
42. See "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (4)," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13633, October 21, 2005, http://www.alriyadh. com/2005/10/21/article102240.html;
43. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
44. Khalid Al-Mushawwah, supra note 27.
45. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
46. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (4)," supra note 37.
47. Bandar Al-Nasi, "Radical Ideology Shrunk within a Year of Its Circulation," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13773, March 10, 2006, http://www.alriyadh.com/2006/03/10/article137003_s.html.
48. Mamdooh Al-Mutari, "Repentant Takfiri: I Thought of Killing Weil-Known Figures...," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Newspaper Online, Issue No. 9307, May 24, 2004, http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp?section= 4&issue=9307&article=235274.
49. Waheeb Al-Wahibi, "My Experience with Security Detainees in Saudi Prisons: Interview with Dr. Adel A. Abdul-Jabbar," Saaid Net, October 2005, at http://saaid.net/Doat/adel/9.htm.
50. His notable books also include: Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen (Two Senior Ulamas) and Their Positions Regarding the Saudi State; Do Sheikhs Like Sheikh Ibn Baz Leave the Nation in Delusion? Working with the Infidel Governments; and About the Saudi Mufti Fatwa on Martyrdom Operations.
51. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
52. "Confessions of a Repentant Takfiri," supra note 20.
53. "A Previous Woman Leader in Al-Qaeda: Al-Sakin'ah (Tranquility) Campaign Changed My Views," AlArabiya Net, February 20, 2005, at http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2005/02/20/10527.html.
54. Halima Muzaffar, "Saud Al-Musaibeeh: Raising Women is One of Our Social Tragedies...Terrorists Used it in a Distorted Way," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Newspaper Online, Issue No. 10036, May 21, 2006, http://www.asharqalawsat.com/.
55. See "Dialogue Strikes Extremism and Takfir Ideology and Brings Youth Back Home," supra note 36;
56. Abdullah Al-Ki'aid, supra note 24.
57. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
58. Abdulwahab Al-Faisal, supra note 11.
59. "Several Officials Praise the Achievements of the Kingdom in the Fight Against Extremism," supra note 29.
60. Abdulwahab Al-Faisal, supra note 11.
61. "Several Officials Praise the Achievements of the Kingdom in the Fight against Extremism," supra note 29.
62. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
63. "Dialogue Strikes Extremism and Takfir Ideology and Brings Youth Back Home," supra note 36;
64. "AlRiyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (4)," supra note 37.
65. Waheeb Al-Wahibi, supra note 43.
66. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (4)," supra note 37;
67. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
68. "Al-Riyadh Discusses the Secrets of Terrorists Cells (5)," supra note 21.
69. "Ida'at: Turki Al-Dakheel Dialogue with Dr. Muhammad Al-Nijaimi," supra note 13.
70. See Ahmed Moussa, "Ministers Coordinate Anti-Terrorism Action," Al-Ahram Weekly Online, February 6, 2002, http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/ 2002/571/eg4.htm;
71. "The Council of Arab Interior Ministers Stresses the Arab Cooperation in Fighting Terrorism and Drying its Sources of Finance," Ain Al-Yaqeen, February 10, 2006, http://www.ain-al-yaqeen.com/issues/ 20060210/feat6en.htm;
72. M A Shaikh, Arab Secularists Detect Trap in New Arab Anti-Terrorism Accord, Muslimedia, May 16-31, 1998, http://www.muslimedia.com/AR-CHIVES/ oaw98/arabtrap.htm.
73. Anthony H. Cordesman, Saudi Arabia Enters the Twenty-first Century (Praeger Publishers, 2003), p. 164.
74. Julia Preston, "Officials See Risk in the Release of Images of Iraq Prisoner Abuse," The New York Times, August 12, 2005, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/12/politics/12photos.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
75. See "Dialogue Strikes Extremism and Takfir Ideology and Brings Youth Back Home," supra note 36;
76. "AlWatan Publishes the Dialogue Text between Takfiri and Propagators," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 1392, July 22, 2004, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/2004-07-22/first_page/first_page02.htm.
77. "Al-Qaeda Will Use Cartoon Row," BBC News Online, February 20, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4732016.stm.
78. "Tancredo: If They Nuke Us, Bomb Mecca," The Associated Press, July 18, 2005, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,162795,00.html.
79. Anthony H. Cordesman, supra note 61.
80. Saud Al-Musaibeeh, "Breaking of the Barrier of Fear," Al-Hayat Online, Issue No. 15630, February 9, 2006, http://www.almsaibeh. com/coverage.php?articleid=323.
81. The Department of The Treasury, Testimony of Daniel L. Glaser, Deputy Assistant Secretary Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes U.S. Department of the Treasury Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, November 8, 2005, http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js3011.htm.
82. See Saud Al-Musaibeeh, "Breaking of the Barrier of Fear," supra note 67;
83. "Saudi Must Wage Battle of Minds with Al-Qaeda: Analysts," AFP, December 1, 2007, http://afp.google.com/article/ ALeqM5iniS7xXrVK8pOWUkJrlGQ12PaBQw.
84. Saud Al-Musaibeeh, "The Interior Ministry Succeeded in Combining Tough Security Measures and Logical Strategy," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13913, July 28, 2006, http://www.almsaibeh.com/coverage.php?articleid= 459.
85. Abdullah Al-Oraifig, supra note 10.
86. See "Al-Munasah'ah Campaign Held its Periodical Meeting with the Participation of the Ulama and Other Specialists," Al-Jazirah Newspaper Online, October 12, 2006, http://213.136.192.26/2006jaz/oct/12/fe11.htm;
87. Khalid Al-Zaidan, "Mystery Surrounds the Recruitment and Planning... It Stresses the importance of the Recruitment of Young Groups," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13635, October 23, 2005, http://www.alriyadh. com/2005/10/23/article102789.html.
88. Abdullah Al-Oraifig, supra note 10.
89. Muhammad Al-Ghunaim, "The Release of 700 Held on Security Charges after They Recanted Their Radical Beliefs," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13989, October 12, 2006, http://www.alriyadh.com/2006/10/12/article193709. html.
90. See "Prince Mohammed bin Nayef Gives the Kingdom Vision on the Roots of terrorism and Ways to Combat It," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13376, February 6, 2005, http://www.alriyadh.com/2005/02/06/section.main.html;
91. Saud Al-Musaibeeh, "Breaking of the Barrier of Fear," supra note 67;
92. Christopher Boucek, supra note 24.
93. Muhammad Al-Ghunaim, supra note 74.
94. Turki Al-Suhail, "Tendency to Globalize a Saudi Program Succeeded in Correcting Al-Qaeda Members' Ideology," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Online, Issue No. 10480, August 8, 2007, http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp? section=4&article=431602&issue=10480.
95. See Waheeb Al-Wahibi, supra note 43;
96. "Confronting Extremism Move to the Internet and the Significant Role Played by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs...," supra note 7.
97. Y. Yehoshua, "The Counseling Program for Saudi Security Prisoners," MEMRI, Inquiry and Analysis, Series - No. 260, January 18, 2006, http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area= saudiarabia&ID=IA26006#_edn1_edn1.
98. Ali Al-Qahtani, "Saudi Security Success in the Fight Against Terrorism: World Countries Testimony," AlWatan Online, Issue No. 2185, September 23, 2006, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/2006-09-23/watan/ first_17.htm.
99. Waheeb Al-Wahibi, supra note 43.
100. See Saud Al-Musaybih, Two Years on the Al-Munasah 'ah Campaign, Dr. Saud Al-Musaybih Website, Feb. 9, 2006, http://www.almsaibeh.com/coverage. php?articleid=323;
101. Waheeb Al-Wahibi, supra note 43.
102. Waheeb Al-Wahibi, supra note 43.
103. Abdullah Al-Oraifig, supra note 10.
104. Ali Al-Qahtani, supra note 80.
105. Abdullah Al-Oraifig, supra note 10.
106. Salman Al-Aqili, "Intensive Programs to Rehabilitate Returning Guantanamo Detainees," Al-Yaum Online, Issue No. 12075, July 7, 2006, http://www.alyaum.com/issue/page.php?IN=12075&P=1&G=2.
107. Ali Al-Qahtani, supra note 80.
108. See Saud Al-Musaibeeh, "Breaking of the Barrier of Fear," supra note 67;
109. Christopher Boucek, supra note 22.
110. See Ali Al-Qahtani, "Radicals Backed Away from the Slogan: Expel the Polytheists from the Arabian Peninsula," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 2613, November 25, 2007, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno= 2613&id=30423;
111. Report: Saudi Frees 1, 500 Extremists Who Changed Course, ABC News, November 25, 2007, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/25/2100697. htm.
112. Ali Al-Qahtani, supra note 80.
113. Waheeb Al-Wahibi, supra note 43.
114. Saudi authorities say that about 500 youths have completed the program and been freed since it began in 2004. They remain under close surveillance. None has been found to be re-involved in terrorism so far. See Tariq Nawfal, "Ninety Percent of Those Prisoners Recanted Their Radical Views," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 2358, March 15, 2007, http://www.alwatan.com. sa/daily/2007-03-15/first_page/first_page10.htm;
115. Muhammad Al-Ghunaim, supra note 74;
116. Ahmed Ghallab, "From the 700 Released, Nine Returned to Their Radical Views," Okaz Newspaper Online, Issue No. 2122, Apr. 9, 2007, http://www.okaz.com.sa/okaz/osf/20070409/Con20070409101909.htm;
117. "Saudi Arabia's Plan to Stop Suicide Attacks," Times Online, April 25, 2006, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ middle_east/article709199.ece.
118. "Takferieon in Saudi Prisons Began to Write Their Reviews," Al-Arabiya Net, June 20, 2007, http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/06/ 20/35699.html.
119. See "Nine of Seven Hundred Released Returned to their Radical Ideologies," Okaz Online, Issue No. 2122, April 9, 2007, http://www.okaz.com.sa/okaz/osf720070409/Con20070409101909.htm.
120. See Ali Al-Qahtani, supra note 90;
121. "Report: Saudi Frees 1,500 Extremists Who Changed Course," supra note 90.
122. Saud Al-Musaibeeh, "Breaking of the Barrier of Fear," supra note 67.
123. Yasir Al-Maarik, "Al-Mushawwah to Al-Jazirah: 877 Recanted their Radical Views and 1500 of Takfiri Websites Have Been Monitored," Al-Jazirah Newspaper Online, Issue No. 12879, January 2, 2008, http://www.al-jazirah.com/1240787/lnl1d.htm.
124. "Al-Sakinah (Tranquility) Campaign: 541 Recanted Their Radical Views," International Islamic Charity Organization, Issue No. 193, May 2006, http://www.iico.org/al-alamiya/issues-1427/issue-193/Islamic-News.htm.
125. Najah Al-Osaimi, "Al-Sakin'ah (Tranquility) Campaign Continue Its Effort to Change the Radical View of Extremists," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 9786, September 13, 2005, http://www.asskeenh.com. (January 10, 2008).
126. Yasir Al-Maarik, supra note 98.
127. Ibid.
128. "Forty Specialists to Counter Takfirist Doctrine and 690 of Them Recanted Their Views," Al-Jazirah Newspaper Online, Issue No. 12574, March 3, 2007, http://archive.al-jazirah.com.sa/2007jazhd/mar/3/index.htm.
129. Lutfi Abdullatif, "Al-Sakin'ah (Tranquility) Campaign First Direct Confrontation with Al-Qaeda on the Internet," Al-Madinah Online, Issue No. 16326, January 8, 2008, http://www.almadinapress.com/index.aspx? Issueid=2587&pubid=5&CatID=51&articleid=1039101;
130. "Al-Watan Publishes the Dialogue Text between Takfiri and a Propagator," supra note 63.
131. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, supra note 30.
132. "Women Engage in a Dialogue with Other Women to Change Their Radical Views," Al-Arabiah Net, July 16, 2005, http://www.alarabiya.net/ articles/2005/07/16/14979.html.
133. See Yasir Al-Maarik, supra note 98;
134. "Al-Sakinah Campaign Female Volunteers Succeeded in Persuading 100 Female to Recant Their Radical Views," Al-Arabiyah Net, March 3, 2007, http://www.alarabiya.net/Articles/2007/03/03/32239.htm;
135. "Al-Sakinah Campaign Female Volunteers Succeeded in Persuading 100 Female to Recant Their Radical Views," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Online, Issue No. 10322, March 3, 2007, http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp? section=43&issue=10322&article=408809.
136. "Online Conversation Between an Al-Sakinah Representative and an Extremist," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 1392, July 22, 2004, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/index.asp?issueno-1392, Text Translated by Y. Yehoshua, supra note 79.
137. Muhammad Al-Ghunaim, "Radical Organization Recognizes the Impact of the Al-Sakinah (Tranquility) Campaign on Its Members," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13470, May 11, 2005, http://www.alriyadh.com/2005/05/11/ article63575_s.html.
138. See Al-Sakina Campaign Official Website, at http://www.asskeenh. com/default.aspx (last visited November 8, 2007);
139. "Al-Sakin'ah Campaign Will Launch the Largest Website in Countering Terrorism and Radicalism," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13985, October 6, 2006, http://www.alriyadh.com/2006/10/08/article192820.html;
140. Intellectual Review Official Website, http://www.murajaat.com/ (last visted November 11, 2007).
141. Muhammad Al-Ghunaim, "Al-Sakinah (Tranquility) Campaign Launch to Fight Terrorism and Extremism," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 2200, October 8, 2006, http://www.alriyadh.com/2006/10/08/article192820.
142. Sulaiman Al-Aqili, "Extremists Attack the Computers of Al-Sakin'ah (Tranquility) Campaign Aimed at Dismantling Extremism," Al-Sakina Campaign Official Website, http://www.asskeenh.com. (last visited January 10, 2008).
143. "Al-Sakinah (Tranquility) Campaign Convinced 100 Extremists to Recant their Radical Views," Al-Yaum Online, Issue No.11917, January 30, 2006, http://www.alyaum.com/issue/page.php?IN=11917&P=1.
144. Najah Al-Osaimi, supra note 100.
145. Ali Al-Arag, "Electronic Campaign to Monitor Terrorists and Family Hotline to Detect Children's Deviant Thought," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 1382, July 12, 2004, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/2004-07-12/ first_page/first_page09.htm.
146. "Dialogue Kept 800 Individuals from Adopting Radical Ideology," Islam Today Online, February 7, 2005, http://www.islamtoday.net/ albasheer/show_news_content.cfm?id=38663.
147. The Council of Senior Ulama Fatwa is available at http://mahawer.al- islam.com/Display.asp?id=2&f=takfeer001&bookid=9&mid=l (last visited December 10, 2007).
148. See Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Press Release: Saudi Religious Body Issues Fatwa against Terrorism and Urging Public to Report Suspects, June 7, 2004, http://www.saudiembassy.net/2004News/Press/PressDetail.asp?cIndex=217;
149. Statement of the Senior 'Ulama (Scholars) in Saudi Arabia on the Bombing Incidents, Al-Sakinah Campaign Official Website, June 7, 2004, http://www.asskeenh.com (last visited Dec. 10, 2007).
150. The Islamic Fiqh Council Fatwa is available at the Muslim World League official website, http://www.themwl.com/Bodies/Decisions/default.aspx?d= l&did=178&1=AR (last visited December 10, 2007).
151. The Islamic Summit Conference Fatwa is available at http://www.un.int/ palestine/intergovernmental/ oic2005.htm (last visited December 10, 2007).
152. "Saudi Cleric Issues Warning over Saudi Militants," Reuters, Oct. 1, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/ idUSL01171648.
153. The Mufti's Fatwa was published in Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 2559, October 2, 2007, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno= 2559&id=23645;
154. Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Online, Issue No. 10535, October 2, 2007, http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp?section=3&article=439518&issue= 10535;
155. "Saudi Mufti Issues Fatwa Prohibiting Saudi Youth from Engaging in Jihad Abroad," The Middle East Media Research Institute, (MEMRI), Special Dispatch Series No. 1731, October 3, 2007, http://www.memri.org/bin/ opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD173107.
156. "Saudi Clerics Urged to Do More to Fight Militancy," Reuters, December 1, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/ idUSL0167433520071201?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=22&sptrue.
157. See "Saudi Launches Official Fatwa Web Site," Middle East Times, October 7 2007, http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID= 20071007-070955-2740r;
158. "Saudi Launches Official Fatwa Web Site," Gulfnews.com, October 7, 2007, http://www.gulfhews.com/region/Saudi_Arabia/10158676.html.
159. "Saudi Arabia Launches New Fatwa Website to Tackle Extremist Ideologies," AHN Media Corp., October 7, 2007, http://www.allheadlinenews. com/articles/7008752006.
160. A fatwa is a religious-legal opinion or judgment undertaken by a qualified jurist on issues relevant to the Islamic sharia. A jurist must satisfy a number of qualifications and requisite legal training to issue fatwas. These qualifications include a commanding knowledge of the Arabic language to be able to draw accurate interpretation from the Quran and sunnah and to derive the rules (ahkam) of the sharia from its sources (e.g., Quran and sunnah); a detailed knowledge of Quranic injunctions (ayat al-ahkam), narratives and parables, events surrounding their revelation, and the abrogating and the abrogated (al-nasikh wa al-mansukh); a detailed knowledge of sunnah, and the ability to distinguish between authentic and unauthentic; a detailed knowledge of the consensus ijma of the Companions of the Prophet, their successors and the rules and procedures for reasoning by analogy (qiyas); a commanding knowledge of the Islamic Jurisprudence (usul alfiqh) and knowledge of the various branches offiqh and in particular the official school of Islamic law for his/her country; an understanding of the objectives of the sharia in reflection of public interest, and lengthy experience and practice implementing fatwa in different circumstances. It is important to note that religious texts and scholars have warned of the dangers of issuing fatwas by those who lack the required knowledge. A fatwa issued by unqualified persons is a grave sin and not recognized by qualified jurists nor the majority of the Muslim community as legitimate juristic opinions. It is also the duty of the person seeking a fatwa to approach only jurists who are qualified to issue fatwas.
161. See Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi, Adab al-fatwa wa al-mufti wa al-mustafti [The Etiquettes and Qualifications of Issuing Islamic-Judgment] 1/19 -1/30, (Damascus: Dar al- Fikr, 1988).
162. See also "Official Fatwa Site," Telegraph Online, October 7, 2007, http://my.telegraph.co.uk/elle/Oct._2007/official_fatwa_site. htm.
163. Saudi King Slams Extremist Muftis, Press TV, November 7, 2007, http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=30172§ionid=351020205.
164. See "TV Seminar Offers an Overview of the Series Titled Jihad Experiences," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13700, December 27, 2005, http://www.alriyadh.com/2005/12/27/article118422.html;
165. "TV Broadcasts a Five Part Series Titled Jihad Experiences, the Deceit...," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13672, November 25, 2005, http://www.alriyadh.com/2005/11/29/article111369.html;
166. Press Release, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) Online, (December 11, 2005), at http://www.spa.gov.sa/details.php?id=309759.
167. "The Republication of the Al-Khalidi, Al-Khudair, Al-Fahd Recantations," Al-Yaum Online, Issue No. 11345, July 7, 2004, http://www.alyaum.com/issue/page.php?IN=11345&P=1&G=3.
168. See "The Ministry of Islamic Affairs Publishes the Reviews Book," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 13026, February 19, 2004, http://www.alriyadh-np.com/Contents/19-02-2004/Mainpage/LOCAL1_14314.php;
169. "More than One Million and Seventy-Five Thousand Books, Magazines and Brochures to Confront Radicalization and Terrorism," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 2163, September 1, 2006, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/ 2006-09-01/culture/culture09.html.
170. Waheeb Al-Wahibi, supra note 43;
171. "Ex-Fighter in Iraq Tells His Story," Crossroad Arabia, September 16, 2007, http://xrdarabia.org/?s=jihadi.
172. See "Declaration of the Saudi Supreme Ulama Council," Contemporary Jurisprudence Research Journal, July - Sept. 1996 pp. 254 -258;
173. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Statement by HE. Shaikh Salih bin Muhammad Al-Luheidan, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Sept. 14, 2001, http://www.unc.edu/~kurzman/terror.htm;
174. Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia To the United Nation, Statement by HRH Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General before the High Level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, New York, September 15, 2005, http://www.un.org/webcast/summit2005/ statements15/sau050915eng.pdf.
175. "Islamic Websites Issued Statements Condemning Terrorist Acts," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 14212, May 23, 2007, http://www.alriyadh. com/2007/05/23/article251456.html.
176. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Press Conference on National Campaign against Extremism, March 7, 2005, http://www.saudiembassy.net/ReportLink/ terrorism-Embassy-PC-Adel-Mar05-Q.pdf.
177. Counter-Terrorism International Conference, Riyadh, February 5 - 8, 2005, official website, http://www.ctic.org.sa/ (last visited November 12, 2007).
178. See Christopher Boucek, "Saudi Security and the Islamist Insurgency," Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitaor, January 26, 2006, http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369879;
179. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, HRH Prince Muhammad Bin Naief Presented the Kingdom Vision on the Root of Terrorism and How to Fight It, February 6, 2005, http://www.mofa.gov.sa/Detail.asp?InSectionID= 2263&InNewsItemID=27059.
180. "The Republication of the Al-Khalidi, Al-Khudair, Al-Fahd Recantations," supra note 129.
181. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Press Conference on National Campaign against Extremism, supra note 134.
182. See Hamid Al-Iqbali, "Minister of Islamic Affairs: A Campaign to Strengthen Youth against Takfir Ideology," Okaz Online, Issue No. 2377, December 20, 2007, http://www.okaz.com.sa/okaz/osf/20071220/ Con20071220160890.htm;
183. "The Ministry of Islamic Affairs Launches Its Strengthening Campaign against Terrorism," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 14361, October 19, 2007, http://www.alriyadh.com:80/2007/10/19/article287794.html.
184. Center for Religious Freedom of Freedom House and Institute for Gulf Affairs, Saudi Arabia's Curriculum of Intolerance with Excerpts from Saudi Ministry of Education Textbooks for Islamic Studies, May, 2006, http://www.gulfinstitute.org/IGA051605/IGA-FH-SaudiReport.pdf.
185. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Press Release: Islamic Affairs Minister Urges Revision of Kingdom's Textbooks, April 9, 2003, at http://www.saudiembassy.net/2003News/News/IslDetail.asp?cIndex=764.
186. See Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Transcript of Prince Turki 's Remarks at American University, January 19, 2007, http://www.saudiembassy. net/2007News/Statements/SpeechDetail.asp?cIndex=681;
187. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Transcript of Prince Turki s Remarks at Salt Lake City CoC Luncheon, January 12, 2007, http://www.saudiembassy.net/ 2007News/Statements/SpeechDetail.asp?cIndex=679.
188. Abdulwahab Al-Faisal, supra note 11.
189. See Christina Bellantoni, "Islamic Groups Hit Curriculum at Saudi School," The Washington Times, August 2 2004, http://www. washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20040802-123606-9597r;
190. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Counter-Terrorism International Conference, Riyadh, February 5 - 8, 2005, http://saudiembassy.net/ ReportLink/terrorism-CTIC-overview-Feb05-Q.pdf.
191. See Mariam Al Hakeem, "Saudi Arabia's Anti-Terrorism Campaign to Target Students," Gulf News, November 22, 2006, http://archive. gulfnews.com/region/Saudi_Arabia/10084291.html;
192. Huda Al-Salih, "Interview with Dr.Abdul Rahman Alhdelk," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Online, Jan. 11, 2007, http://www.amanjordan.org/a-news/ wmview.php?ArtID=10118.
193. See "Saudi Schools Enter Crucial Round in the Fight against Terrorism," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Online, Issue No. 10387, May 7, 2007, http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp?section=43&article= 418106&issue=10387;
194. "Together Against Terrorism," Al-Yaum Online, Issue No. 11568, February 15, 2005, http://www.alyaum.com/issue/page.php/in= 11568&p=40.
195. Ministry of Higher Education Official Website, http://www2.mohe.gov.sa/ index.asp (last visited November 12, 2007).
196. Samar Fatany, "Education Reform Is the Pathway to the Future," Arab News, October 2, 2007, http://arabnews.com/?page=7§ion= 0&article=101957&d=2&m=10&y=2007.
197. See "The Saudi Council of Ministers Agrees on the Minutes of the Special Committee for King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz Project for the Development of Public Education," Ain Al-Yaqeen, February 16, 2007, http://www.ain-al-yaqeen.com/issues/20070216/feat6en.htm;
198. "An Ambitious Education Project," The Saudi Gazette, April 6, 2007, http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.php?option= com_content&task=view&id=28742&Itemid=146.
199. See "Interview by Wolf Blitzer with Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United States," CNN Late Edition, May 18, 2003, http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0305/18/le.00.html;
200. Jameel AlThiyabi, "The Ministry of Islamic Affairs Suspended 1710 Imams, Khateeb, and Muezzin," Al-Hayat Online, May 28, 2005, http://english.daralhayat.com/.
201. Fawaz Al-Maimoni, "Saudi Arabia: Electronic Surveillance over Saudi Mosques," Al-Hayat Online, April 24, 2006, http://www.daralhayat. com/arab_news/gulf_news/04-2006/Item-20060423-c8557728-c0a8-10ed-01d1- b9b725c4099b/story.html.
202. There are two committees that review all of its sponsored religious publications: one in the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the other in the Ministry of Information.
203. "Al-Sakinah (Tranquility) Campaign Convinced 100 Extremists to Recant their Radical Views," supra note 113.
204. King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, official website, http://www.kacnd.org/eng/ (last visited November 12, 2007).
205. King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, supra note 2.
206. See "The Custodian of the Two Holly Mosques Calls for Widening the Base for Dialogue in the Kingdom," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 14345, October 2, 2007, http://www.alriyadh.com/2007/10/03/article284230.html;
207. "The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Stressed on the Importance of Expanding the Circle of Dialogue," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Online, Issue No. 10536, October 3, 2007, http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp?section= 4&issue=10536&article=439700.
208. "Preparations to Launch a Program to Spread Human Rights Awareness in Saudi Arabia," Al-Yaum Online, Issue No. 12402, May 30, 2007, http://www.alyaum.com.sa/issue/page.php?IN=12402&P=1.
209. The Saudi government maintained the adoption of resolute measures to prosecute the perpetrators of terrorist acts and instituted legal and judicial proceedings against them in accordance with the Islamic sharia. In addition, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have drawn attention to new terrorism and its global export and the connection between terrorism and other terrorist related crimes such as drug offenses, corruption, and illicit firearms trafficking that led to the enactment of new law related to terrorism financing, money laundering and drug trafficking laws. Saudi Arabia has also become a party to a number of international, regional and bilateral counterterrorism and
210. See United Nations Security Council, Report of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Submitted Pursuant to Paragraph 6 of Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) Concerning Counter-Terrorism, (Doc. No. S/2001/1294, December 27, 2001), http://www.un.org/docs/sc/committees/1373/s.htm.
211. Alfred B. Prados and Christopher M. Blanchard, Saudi Arabia: Terrorist Financing Issues, CRS Report for Congress, March 1, 2005, http://www.ndu.edu/library/docs/crs/crs_rl32499_01mar05.pdf.
212. See Federal Bureau of Investigation, Testimony of Thomas J. Harrington, Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, FBI before the House Committee on International Relations/Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, March 24, 2004, http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress04/ 032404middleeast.htm;
213. Anthony H. Cordesman, The Prospects for Stability in Saudi Arabia in 2004 [Part I], Saudi US Relation Information Services, February 23, 2004, http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/newsletter2004/saudi-relations-interest-02-23. html;
214. U.S. Department of State, International Security, U.S., Saudi Arabia Act Jointly to Block Terror, March 11, 2002, http://usinfo.state.gov/is/ Archive_Index/U.S._Saudi_Arabia_Act_Jointly_to_Block_Terror_Funds.html.
215. See Nayiroz Bakr, "Internet Media in Saudi Arabia: Sudden Shift from Media Control to Infinite Space without Border," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 1326, May 17, 2004, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/2004-05-17/affair. htm;
216. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Official Website, http://www.isu.net.sa/ar/saudi-Internet/local-information/service-orgnization- ar.htm, (last visited January 1, 2008).
217. Press release, Reporters without Borders, Mar. 26, 2004, http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=9661.
218. Philip Johnston, "Tackling 'Terror Svengalis' on Web a Priority," Telegraph Online, January 18, 2008, http://www.telegraph. co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/17/nterror517.xml.
219. Raid Qusti, "Experts Recommend Special Laws to Combat Terror," Arab News, December 5, 2007, www.arabnews.compage=§ion= 0&article-104300M=5&m=12&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category= Kingdom.
220. "Report: Saudis Probe National Security and Technology," Middle East Times, December 1, 2007, http://www.metimes.com/Politics/ 2007/12/01/saudis_probe_national_security_and_technology_report/afp/.
221. See "Security Chief Asks Saudis to Monitor Internet Use," Reuters, November 24, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/InternetNews/ idUSL2465907420071124;
222. Raid Qusti, "Kingdom to Restructure Intelligence Operations," Arab News, November 25, 2007, http://www.arabnews.com/?page- 1§ion=0&article=103970&d=25&m=11&y=2007&pix=kingdom. jpg&category=Kingdo;
223. Muhammad Almelfi, and Muhammad Ahalili, "Prince Muqrin: Efforts with 14 Companies to Stop Hosting Extremists Sites," Al-Watan Online, Issue No. 2613, November 25, 2007, http://www.alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail. asp?issueno=2613&id=30420. (See Chart 7).
224. NETworked Radicalization: A Counter-Strategy, The Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) and Critical Incident Analysis Group (CIAG), May 3, 2007, http://www.gwumc.edu/hspi/reports/ NETworked%20Radicalization_A%20Counter%20Strategy.pdf.
225. See Law to Counter Cyber Crime, Council of Ministers Decision, Art. 7, March 26, 2007;
226. "Law to Counter Cyber crime...," Al-Riyadh Online, Issue No. 14173, April 14, 2007, http://www.alriyadh.com/2007/04/14/article241549. html.
227. Ibid, Art. 8.
228. Ibid, Art. 11.
229. "Saudi Forum Urges Global Cyber-Terrorism Ban," Saudi in Focus, December 5, 2007, http://www.saudiinfocus.com/en/show_news.asp?nid= 718.
230. Raid Qusti, "Experts Recommend Special Laws to Combat Terror," supra note 164.
231. See Mustafa Al-Minshawi, "Egyptian Islamic Jihad Organization Issues a Review of the Organization Theological Basis," BBC Arabic News Online, Nov. 18, 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/world_news/ newsid_7100000/7100286.stm;
232. Ian Black, "Violence Won't Work: How Author of Jihadists 'Bible' Stirred up a Storm," The Guardian Online, July 27, 2007, http://www.guardian.co.uk/egypt/story/0,,2135869,00.html.
233. Anton La Guardia, supra note 1.
234. The Radical Middle Way Project, official website, http://www. radicalmiddleway.co.uk/ (last visited November 1, 2007).
235. "NETworked Radicalization: A Counter-Strategy," supra note 167.
236. See Simon Montlake, "U.S. Tries Rehab for Religious Extremists," The Christian Science Monitor, October 9, 2007, http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1009/p01s04-woap.html;
237. "Bloggers' Roundtable With Gen. Douglas M. Stone," The Washington Post, September 18, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091801969_pf.html;
238. Anderson Cooper, Live from Baghdad; Petraeus' Testimony; Insurgent Allies; Saudi Terrorists; Dangerous Duty, CNN Online, September 10, 2007, at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/10/acd.02.html.