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Saudis Release 1,500 Suspected Extremists
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ShareNovember 28, 2007 1:48 PM
Saudi Arabia has released 1,500 prisoners suspected of belonging to a radical Islamic group after the prisoners underwent what was described as a five-week counseling program, according to Middle Eastern newspapers.
Critics of the prisoner reform program worry it does nothing to seriously combat Islamic radicalism and releases dangerous extremists back into society.
"This is the sort of failure to recognize the threat and deal with it seriously that has characterized the Saudis for years," said former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant.
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The released prisoners are described as followers of the rigid Takfir ideology and considered by many U.S. intelligence officials to be prime recruiting material for al Qaeda groups.
According to a Saudi newspaper, the Takfir group calls for establishing an Islamic state, kicking non-Muslims out of the Arabian Peninsula and considers other Muslim leaders, scholars and the general Muslim public disbelievers.
The Saudi newspaper, Al-Watan, publicized the massive prisoner release on Sunday, saying the Saudi Ministry of Interior spearheaded the effort in 2005 by holding 5,000 meetings with about 3,200 suspected Takfir members. The New York Sun first reported the development in the United States.
The Saudi Embassy and Ministry of Interior did not respond to repeated attempts for comment.
The committee charged with reforming Takfir suspects told Al-Watan it uses 100 Islamic law specialists and 30 social and psychological experts to counsel the prisoners. After the suspects met in groups of 20 for five weeks and completed an exam, the committee awarded the prisoners certificates -- and their freedom.
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November 28, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (7)
Well as long as they said they wouldn't blow anyone up it's okay.
Posted by: JD | Nov 28, 2007 2:04:28 PM
Saudi Arabia is not America's friend.. !!! This is just another poke in the ribs for AMERICA.. STOP ALL ARMS and weapon sales to Saudi Arabia because they are our enemy.. COME ON AMERICA, find another source of fuel and let the middle east eat sand..
Posted by: Dan Fisher | Nov 28, 2007 2:10:11 PM
I beg to differ. The Saudi government has responded - by cooking up a phony press release about how they've just arrested 208 terrorists and their supporters who were planning an "imminent attack" on Saudi oil facilities.
They're playing the American media for a bunch of easily distracted fools, and judging by the AP, USA Today, BBC, Fox News and a growing number of other sources, their gambit appears to be working. And didn't they report this exact same story just a few months ago?
Posted by: Bill in Chicago | Nov 28, 2007 2:27:14 PM
Maybe that five week study group was all about bomb making.... The "How To Handbook for Terrorists!!
Posted by: Camille Pagnotta | Nov 28, 2007 3:25:48 PM
Our great goal as a country should be to extricate ourselves from our dependence on oil. The Saudis are not our friend. They may feel that their rehabilitation program (a clockwork orange?) will protect themselves as fellow Sunni Moslems from these violent fanatic bezerkas, but I am quite sure that they know that they are letting loose these hellish nut jobs upon western countries. I never like to consider giving up the comforts of energy but I think I would accept some kind of rationing if we can get back our independence.
Posted by: maddymappo | Nov 28, 2007 3:39:09 PM
While HOPING somewhere along this insane line of terrorist cultivation, I have not a doubt that what the one islamic incharge of CAIR said is true: the muslims are here for a complete takeover...nothing else. Ask yourself: why are all these muslims who thrive in the dry desert countries moving to all the continents? Why are they allowed to buy land, build mosques, etc., in OUR country when we cannot buy 1 square inch of their land?
the Saudis are destroying the United States with the cost of oil - oil that we found, that we drilled for and we showed them how to operate the facilities. Up until then their greasy rears were wallowing about in the sand and on the smelly camels. did they use the money from the oil to educate their people? to make better lives for their people? Nope - they, like sad-dam build palace after palace, buy sterling silver cars (not color but made with sterling silver). They are living proof just like sad-dam that money does not improve people nor countries. Now it seems they want to force US to live like they do - in the 600th century.
Pres. Bush promised new refineries and new drilling for oil - where is it? sad situation we have allowed ourselves to get into with the politicians that we put into office...and remember, how do you know when a politician OR an Arab is lying? Their mouths are open.
Posted by: frostyredbird | Nov 29, 2007 2:25:23 PM
They release 1500 suspected terrorists but want to flog and jail a young woman who was gang-raped, calling it her fault. What a screwed up bunch the Saudis are.
Posted by: Jimbo1 | Nov 29, 2007 5:21:58 PM
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