The Arrest of Sheikh al-Amri

DATE  : 14 / 03 / 2001

NO  : 103 / H/ 2001

The Saudi regime committed a great crime , insult and abuse against Islam and Muslims and our zealous people in Arabian Peninsula when it arrested one of the most prominent religious scholars.

On Friday 14/12/1412 H. coinsiding with 09/03/2001 ,  members of al-Mabahith al-`Amma (General Directorate of Investigation) arrested the religious scholar (Sheikh Mohammad Ali al-Amri, 90 years, from al-Madina al-Munawwarah at his return from Mecca after performing religious rites of  peligrimage to Ka`ba.

Reliable resources reported our Committee (CDHRAP) that the arrest was carried out under the pretext that the above- mentioned scholar has hosted some Iranian pilgrims at his house in al-Madina al-Munawwara, although His Eminenece told the investigators before his arrest that his house and salon are open for any Muslim guest from any country and he could not prevent anyone to be his guest.

It is worth mentioning that the salon of Sheikh al-Amri in al-Madina al-Munawwara is considered as a rendezvous for the pilgrims of the holy shrine of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) and for the pilgrims of Beit Allah al-Haram in Mecca from all over the world due to his high scholarly and spiritual rank and due to the great respect among all Muslims worldwide.

The arrest of this Sheikh who approached ninety years old, is considered as a gross violation for the sanctity of Man, Islam and religious scholars which our religion confirmed their protection.

Is there any law in Islam or positive law that charges any individual because of hosting gusets in his house?

Moreover , the house and the salon of Sheikh al-Amri was open for Iranian pilgrims and visitors and others before scores of years, but what was the unexpected event which caused the arrest of this glorious sheikh?

We refuse that our religious scholars and our people to be victims of internal or external political struggles , and we refuse that some exercises  against them practiced by Saudi regime used as means to get rid of some crisises which were a result of those struggles.

We call on all Islamic Jurists and scholars, the educated and thinkers , and all Muslims all over the world to question the Saudi regime on which legitimacy on governance does it base its rule unless it it base its rule on Shari`a or positive laws?

Does it rules the country according to royal decrees or according to the "draft laws of forbidden and permitted" which are changed always according to the interests and wills of the ruler?

Could the Saudi citizen guarantee his rights and live in stability and safety through this bad humanitarian situation and through these arbitrary practices which are unique in the world?

Could the political, social, economic and security system be stable under the situation  of  fixing the sectarian discrimination?

We call on you to exert pressure on Saudi regime to release Sheikh al-Amri and other religious scholars and youths who are still detained at the dark prisons of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and other jails.