Another Saudi Cleric Renounces Militancy

AP via The Las Vegas Sun ^ | November 22, 2003 | ADNAN MALIK

[Pan_Yans Wife]

November 22, 2003 at 18:24:22 PST

Another Saudi Cleric Renounces Militancy By ADNAN MALIK ASSOCIATED PRESS

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - A second prominent Saudi cleric has renounced Islamic militancy and attacks against innocent people during an interview aired on state-run TV Saturday.

Nasser al-Fahd made his remarks four days after cleric Ali al-Khudair also reversed his fatwas - or religious edicts - promoting violence.

The statements come as Saudi authorities crack down on militants believed responsible for a string of attacks inside Saudi Arabia, birthplace of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 hijackers from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Saudi authorities arrested al-Fahd, al-Khudair and another cleric, Ahmad al-Khalidi, in May. All three were detained during an anti-terror sweep after attacks in the capital, Riyadh, killed 35 people, including the nine suicide bombers.

The three clerics were charged with advocating violence in sermons in mosques and on the Internet. No dates for their trials have been set.

"The solution is not in bearing arms," the bespectacled al-Fahd said during his interview aired Saturday evening.

"There is no good in violence," he added, appearing relaxed and composed. "Why should innocent people pay the price?"

In relation to the deadly Nov. 8 bombings at a Riyadh residential compound that killed 17 people, mainly Arabs and other Muslims, al-Fahd said: "We never imagined that things would go this far."

Al-Fahd said he was not coerced into conducting the interview. He made his statements "out of full conviction."

On Wednesday, fellow cleric al-Khudair renounced the volatile religious edicts he had previously issued, telling Saudi TV that "if I had the choice, I would not have said them. I hope that, God willing, I have time to correct them."

Al-Khudair also said he had not been coerced into recanting.

Al-Khudair, who has a strong following among some Saudi militants, said this month's Riyadh bombings were "the work of criminals."

Since May, Saudi authorities have arrested hundreds of suspected militants and their supporters. They have also launched an intellectual attack on extremist thought. The TV appearances by al-Fahd and al-Khudair are seen as part of that campaign.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[nuconvert]

Interesting.
Thank you.

[Pikamax]

what they didn't see were the firearms pointed at him off stage while he read the cuecards just in case he got off message.

[Chu Gary]

This reversal by a couple of clerics is a good first step but there is so much more to do to stop the fanaticism sweeping the mid-East and threatening the rest of the world. Words are fine, but probably not enough.

[ellery]

btttt

[Pan_Yans Wife]

but there is so much more to do to stop the fanaticism sweeping the mid-East and threatening the rest of the world.

GWBush knows this, too.

[Adrastus]

Interesting statement. However......I prefer a healthy skepticism.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Healthy skepticism is fine, and encouraged. However, it is NEWS when a cleric speaks out against the acts of radical militants.

[Navy Patriot]

The three clerics were charged with advocating violence in sermons in mosques and on the Internet. No dates for their trials have been set.

I'll bet these clerics are remorseful all right, remorseful that the Saudi's are getting more and more pressure to show that they don't support terrorists (Ha!) and they might sacrifice 2 or 3 "thorn in the side" clerics to show good faith.

[Moosilauke]

Hmm...another Saudi cleric decides to keep his head on his shoulders. It must have been a religious experience.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

The Saudi royal family is assisting America, more and more, as they begin to feel the brunt of al Qaeda's wrath. Al Qaeda can attack weaker areas of the world, but hasn't targeted America, again. And I think the cooperation of other nations is one of the reasons why.

[rmmcdaniell]

"There is no good in violence," he added,

Actually pacifism is only slightly less illogical than wontan violence.

Violence to destroy militant radicals is a very good thing.

[Navy Patriot]

The Saudi royal family is assisting America, more and more, as they begin to feel the brunt of al Qaeda's wrath.

I agree, however, I think it is in their own self interest rather than because they like us. Al Q used to let them live for cash, now they kill a few, tomorrow more. The Saudi's are beginning to see a longer richer future with us rather than playing on both sides of the fence. Who knows, maybe the Saudi's may speed things up by lopping a few heads, but what you say will come to pass.

[kinghorse]

Somewhere is Saudi Arabia a brown skinned Winston Smith resists.

This is something straight out of mind control 101.

[McGavin999]

This is exactly what it is going to take to help get this thing under control. Now they need these clerics to step forward and say that the killing of innocents will result in automatically going to hell. They have to stress that the killing of innocents is displeasing to Allah and that those who perform these acts are blaspheamers of the worst sort.

[Chad_the_Impaler]

al-Fahd said: "We never imagined that things would go this far."

===> We never imagined that things would go this NEAR.

[river rat]

"...Saudi cleric has renounced Islamic militancy and attacks against innocent people....."
Now, we just need the good cleric to define "innocent"..

"The solution is not in bearing arms,"
What was the "problem", the cleric originally wanted solved by violence?

"...bombings at a Riyadh residential compound that killed 17 people, mainly Arabs and other Muslims, al-Fahd said: "We never imagined that things would go this far."
Damn....we intended to kill Jews, Americans or infidels .....NOT our fellow Arabs!

I'm NOT impressed that 1 or 2 "good" clerics have had a "change of heart"..
There are still 10's of thousands teaching the same old "hate the Jew and American" bullshit.

Semper Fi

[Stultis]

Hmm...another Saudi cleric decides to keep his head on his shoulders.

Just what I was thinking. There certainly has been a serious outbreak of Cephalic Detatchment Syndrome there in recent years.

BTW, here's the article on the other recanting cleric:

Pro-Qaeda Saudi cleric recants "sinful" militancy ^
			Posted by kattracks On 11/18/2003 6:26 AM CST with 7 comments reuters | 11/18/03 | Dominic Evans RIYADH, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A Saudi cleric detained this year for promoting al Qaeda-style militancy has apologised for his radicalism, saying on public television that suicide bombings and attacks against the kingdom were sinful. The dramatic turnaround of Sheikh Ali al-Khodeir, who had issued religious edicts backing militants bent on toppling the Saudi royal family, appeared to be part of the kingdom's drive to wipe out public support for extremists. Khodeir, popular among the young Saudis who are prime recruits for militant groups, said in an interview broadcast on Monday night he had volunteered to speak out after realising...

[Nebr FAL owner]

More likely they told him they would play a game of soccer using his severed head for the ball 8^)