Around 60 key Saudi Shiite figures have sworn their loyalty to the Sunni regime in a newly released statement seen as complacent by uncompromising Shiites who have been denouncing “discriminatory practices” aimed, according to them, at members of their community, including one radical leader who had recently threatened the secession of the oil rich Eastern Province.
Allegiance to the King
These key figures, who include senior religious dignitaries, academics and businessmen from the Province that shelters almost the entire Shiite community, have rejected “any threat to national unity”, whilst calling for “the cessation of all forms of sectarian hatred and discrimination based on religious creed”, in a statement released on Monday by the pro-Shiite website Rasid http://www.rasid.com/
“We reaffirm our commitment to national unity and our support for our wise leadership”, represented by “the Servant” of the two holy mosques (in Makka and Medina), King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, emphasized the signatories, who included the moderate Sheikh Hassan Al-Saffar.
The signatories made no mention of Sheikh Nimr Baqer Al-Nimr, the fiery ruler who, after last February’s clashes between members of the religious police and Shiite pilgrims in Medina, had threatened, “the secession of the Eastern province if discrimination hitting the Shiite were not lifted.” For more than a month now the hunt to find Sheikh Nimr by security forces has failed.
The signatories have however, called for “the release of detainees and an end to the prosecution of the people under investigation” since the start of the protest rallies in the Eastern province of Al-Qatif, in particular in Al-Awamiya where, according to Rasid, more than 35 people, including three teenagers under 16, were still under arrest at the beginning of the week.
Prince Naif underlines the loyalty of Shiite citizens
The release of the statement was issued shortly after a meeting in Riyadh between a delegation of around forty senior Shiite figures from the Eastern Province and Medina and the Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, who is now closer in line to the throne after his appointment as deputy Prime Minister.
During the meeting, the influential minister mentioned “the strength and depth of relations between the ruling elite and the citizens, regardless of their religious creed”. There are four Sunni schools (Hanbalite, Malekite, Hanafi, Shafi’ite) and three Shiite (Duodecimal Shiite, Ismailism and Zaydism) in Saudi Arabia.
Prince Nayef welcomed the “long-lasting loyalty of Shiite citizens to their homeland and to their leadership” and denounced, without naming them “the websites that sow division”. However, he named several Shiite journalists who he considered “faithful to their homeland”, paying tribute to them.
Amongst the dignitaries was notably Sheikh Saffar who, during last Friday’s prayer, had warned against “discrimination towards [Saudi] Shiites” deploring “the existence of extremists in both camps” [editor’s note: Sunni and Shiite]. He had also paid tribute to the (Malekite) Kuwaiti government for its policy towards its own Shiite citizens.
Radicals versus “renegades”
The publication of Monday’s statement by the moderates immediately triggered an outcry against these “renegades ” by the followers of Sheikh Nimr, whose photo alongside the complete text of his latest inflammatory speech accompanied with commentaries, appears on the home page of Rasid, which has launched a support campaign for the “moudjahid-Sheikh”.
“The statement is a blatant refusal of Sheikh Nirm’s call for secession”, comments one outraged internet surfer. “Some signatories have lost all credibility in my eyes. Others lost it long ago. History will not forgive renegades, conspirators against our community rights. We will never forget their allegiance to the state. All united behind Sheikh Nimr”, lambastes “Haj Hosni”, another internet user.
“What national unity are we talking about in the shadow of abuse, discrimination and terrorism against the Shiite community?” further says a third one who has chosen “Saidane” as a pseudonym. “Why didn’t the statement explain that the events in Awamiya are a cry of revolt and that the authorities are required to put an end to all forms of religious discrimination?” he adds.
“Stop the violations!!”
Saudi authorities have eased the draconian measures, imposed for more than a month, on the residents of this locality, after demonstrations in support of Sheikh Nimr.
From Friday night to Saturday they noticeably withdrew a section of anti-riot forces deployed in this area and reduced searches imposed at certain entry points to the town.
But this has not prevented Shiite lawyers from launching a campaign dubbed “Stop the violations!!” aimed at “denouncing the authorities so that they cease all forms of violations against the rights of the inhabitants of Awamiya”.
In a statement the group lists half a dozen “urgent measures” notably “stopping power cuts”, “the ending of house raids”, “halting the hunt for Sheikh Nimr” and “the release of all detainees”. According to Rasid, the campaign’s advocates aim to collect a thousand signatories, before a public launch of the statement, a copy of which Saudiwave has received, but whose future recipients are not yet known.
“Obama versus Al-Saud”
However, the anti-Shiite website, Al-Sahat has attributed to the “Rafidha” (a pejorative term used by some Sunnis to label Shiites) a long message, according to the website, addressed to the US President Barack Obama, complaining of “injustice and racism of the dictatorial Saudi regime”.
In his inaugural speech, last January, the President notably warned the rulers throughout the world “who cling to power through corruption, deceit and the silencing of dissent” that they were “on the wrong side of history”.
“But we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist” said the American president whose photo, showing him “bowing down” before King Abdullah during the G20 summit in London, has triggered endless ecstatic commentaries in the Saudi press aimed at the Saudi ruler.
“Be aware that to entertain contacts with foreign parties represents an act of high treason, by virtue of all international conventions,” reminds Al-Sahat.
Translated by Naima Bouteldja
www.saudiwave.com
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