Qatif Wanted List: Challenging Authority.

2012-01-05T06:13:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, Saudi Ministry of Interior held a press conference, three days ago, in which it announced a wanted-list of 23 men, over the close-to-one-year-long protests that have persisted mostly in Qatif, in the oil-rich and home to the large Shiite minority, Eastern Province.

During the conference, Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki did a very good job in making up for his lack of information, by simply filling in the blanks sometimes, or by blatantly lying at others. For instance, according to a transcript of the conference, provided by the newspaper owned by Prince Salman, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, he said that these "wanted lists are a follow-up of previous statements of the Ministry of Interior, issued months ago, over riots in Qatif that resulted in the killing of 4 policemen." Well, Al-Turki is not just suffering from lack of information over issues he should be the mostly informed one on, he also doesn't seem like reading the statements issued by same the ministry he works in. In November, after the killing of two young men, out of a total of four young men killed by security forces, Nasir Al-Muhashi and Sayyed Ali Al-Filfil in Qatif, Ministry of Interior issued a statement, implying that two were killed by mistake in a "fire exchange" and didn't claim that any of its security forces personnel were killed. But clearly General Mansour fails in doing his job, or maybe that what his job is all about!

Shocked by including his name in the list, Ramzi Al-Jamal bravely challenged the accusations of the MOI by publicly writing a statement, published on his village website, that is, as many websites of Shiites or other religious minorities, is blocked inside Saudi. "More than a year ago, I was arbitrarily arrested for "inciting protests" , while in fact I was calming people down not to take to the streets, fearing security forces' retaliation," Ramzi starts off his statement. "I spent about year in prison without being granted a trial to defend myself or even to appoint a lawyer," he continues.
Refuting what the Interior spokeman stated, he adds, "MOI has claimed that I was requested to appear before authorities, although none of this has ever happened". He explains, "I have passed safely through checkpoints just the day before MOI's statement without any trouble, contrary to what would've happened if I was wanted. Angered, he says, "All of MOI's accusation are ridiculous and fabricated; I condemn violence by every means and would never carry out such acts. Our struggle is peaceful; that is our belief and not just because violence is outlawed." Then he conclusively finishes off his statement by assuring that "we do not beg for our freedom, we will sacrifice for it no matter what".

Similarly, another wanted man, Ali Al-Zayid, wrote another statement in which he explains how he was fired from his job at Saudi Aramco because he was arrested for more than three months for participating in peaceful protests during the year. At the end of his statement, Ali denies all charges confirm his loyalty to the soil of his country.

Stunned by the firm, calm language of the two statements, the London-based dissident, Fuad Al-Ibrahim tweeted encouraging the other men in the list to take a similar step. On the next day, four other persons, Hussain Al-Rabe', Sayyed Mohammad Al-Shakouri, Salman Al-Faraj, and Mohammad Al-Labbad wrote similar statements, refuting the Ministry of Interior's accusation and affirming the right of freedom-of-assembly. Most bravely, Al-Farag and Al-Shakhouri admitted that they have participated in peaceful protests, about that Al-Faraj says "Yes, I DID participate in peaceful protests, demanding a decent living and putting an end to discrimination that my community has been enduring." In addition, like the first two, Al-Rabe' and Al-Labbad had been detained perviously, during which Al-Rabe' says that he had been tortured and beaten up severely by police officers, whom he specifically name. Watching how the Ministry of Interior has been repeatedly insisting on linking these protesters to a foreign power, namely Iran (what else could they mean?!), you would be surprised to find out that Sayyed Mohammad is still a high-school student!

The list in which Ministry of Interior has labeled peaceful protesters as "wanted criminals", mirroring the way it had dealt with Al-Qaeda terrorists, as many have smartly noticed, is unprecedented and alarming. Given that Saudi has always restrained protests in Qatif and other areas in Eastern Province largely "in-house" by communicating with community leaders to contain and keep the dissent of its youth under control, it is fair to claim that Saudi, since the beginning of Arab Spring has taken a totally different path in dealing with dissent at home. On the other hand, the way these men has bravely and publicly challenged the accusations of the Ministry of Interior proves that they are no less determined than the infamous ministry to defend their rights, despite intimidation and state-sponsored propaganda machines.

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2012-01-05T06:01:00.001-08:00

Ali Abdullah

Qatif Wanted List: Challenging Authority.

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