Saudi Regime Setting Fire on Some Mosques and Religious Centers (Husseinat)

 The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Arabian Peninsula

(CDHRAP)

Date: 10/5/2003

No. : 120 / H / 2003

The Saudi regime tried again to silence the voice of Shi'a citizens by committing another crime against them as a sever respond for the reform petition signed by 450 Shi'a citizens which was presented late last month to the Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz .

Some members of al-Mabahith al-'Amma (General Intelligence) set fire in Sheikh Al'aa Mosque , Bayabi hussainya and Al-Saif hussainya in Tarut Island ; and the historical Prophet al- Khoder Mosque (P.B.U.H) in Rabe'yah village .

According to some eyewitnesses in Taraut, some members of al-Mabahith al-'Amma  escaped from the crime location masked with red veil .

Apparently the operation is systematic and sponsored by the Regime because the mosque of al-Khoder is under a continuous and sever surveillance of al-Mabahith al-'Amma .

This crime may be as a message to whom will be concerned particularly the signers of that petition.

This crime brings to mind the crime of arson some mosques in 1993 in Al-Hasah and Tarut Island committed by Saudi regime after its so-called the pardon of political prisoners and Shi'a opposition in exile in 1993 when some official thugs have set the mosque in Al – Mubarraz town in Ahsaa on fire and the crime of destroying and arson of al-Juweikh mosque which is a historical one and the arson of the mosque in Jassas distrct in Taraut Island.

It is undoubtedly that the Regime by carrying out these repulsive crimes , want to .create disturbances and feed the hatred between Shi'a and Sunni adherents