Saudi Arrests Shiite Imam for 'Glorifying' Hizbullah
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Saudi security forces have arrested a Shiite preacher accused of glorifying Hizbullah, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Hussein al-Radi was detained after Gulf Arab states declared Hizbullah a "terrorist" group earlier this month and brought in tough new measures against anyone supporting it.
The Al-Watan daily reported that security forces arrested Radi, from the Al-Ahsa oasis region in Eastern Province.
"This is after he glorified the terrorist group Hizbullah and insulted the kingdom in a video clip that has been shared" online, the report said.
Radi "also broke previous pledges he had made after defending the terrorist Nimr al-Nimr following his execution," it added.
Nimr, another Shiite cleric from Eastern Province, was a driving force behind protests that began in 2011 among the Shiite minority in Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia.
The Shiites complain of marginalization.
Nimr and three other Shiites were among 47 people executed on January 2 for "terrorism."
Iranian demonstrators stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran and a consulate following Nimr's execution, prompting Riyadh to cut diplomatic ties.
Al-Watan quoted a security source as saying authorities had shown "patience" over a number of violations Radi allegedly made.
"But he continued to incite the public, taking advantage of the mosque platform to breach regulations."
A video posted Sunday on YouTube showed the bespectacled Radi, with a bushy white beard, speaking at a podium where he hails Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as a "hero."
Radi also praises Iran as a regional and international power.
An interior ministry spokesman could not confirm Radi's arrest to AFP but said: "I would assure you that ... laws in the kingdom are enforced."
Ibrahim AlMugaiteeb, president of the Eastern Province-based Human Rights First Society, said Radi's arrest was no surprise.
But even though the imam "pushed the envelope," AlMugaiteeb said he did not condone the arrest of an elderly religious figure.
Other Gulf states have also taken measures against alleged Hizbullah supporters since the "terrorism" blacklisting.
Bahrain announced it had deported several Lebanese residents for alleged links to the group.
A Kuwaiti newspaper reported on Monday that authorities there had taken similar action against 11 Lebanese and three Iraqis.
And the United Arab Emirates has reportedly put seven people on trial for allegedly forming a cell linked to Hizbullah.
22 March 2016, 15:24
1110
hopefully the revolt soon will erupt in the kingdom of terrorism!
22 March 2016, 16:21
119
Thats not what I heard Saudi texas.
Tribes in the Eastern regions have already made small revolts and continues to burn Wahabi police stations etc.
22 March 2016, 16:28
119
@texas the wahhabi:
how can defend a regime like the Saudi one for god sake, watch the documentary about KSA at the BBC that will lead to the diplomatic relation cut between KSA and england hopefully.. things are moving!... but, don't worry about your salary that you receive, democracy and not killing innocents have more value than earning a dirty living!
22 March 2016, 16:33
88
"continues to burn Wahabi police stations etc."
and in your cult, you call that peaceful demonstrations I am sure.
22 March 2016, 16:36
96
A lot has changed in the Cities of Salt but nothing much in the mindset. Their Great grand fathers did the same thing to the Prophet PBUH he had to flee from Mecca as the local authority accused him of inciting the public. "But he continued to incite the public, taking advantage of the mosque platform to breach regulations."
You are Free to remain silent or else we chop your head off.
The only way forward in this area is secularism and tolerance, the alternative is what we are living auto-destruction.
22 March 2016, 16:45
108
Southern, texas is a Wahabi it is his job to defend his Kingdom, just like he glorified it when the Saudis cut off their so called "aid" to Lebanon, it was all a farce.
They say we are not patriots, but they take the Saudi Kingdom before Lebanon anytime.
22 March 2016, 17:07
88
Cutie:
I never encourage violence but in this case I will make an exception and say do it!
22 March 2016, 22:23
22
Hey Naharnet, what's the problem, can't you tell a good post from bad?
23 March 2016, 03:50
33
How Sad..... this holy man's only sin is he sided with our resistance and expressed his feelings! Expressing one's iranian feelings is now a crime punishable by law. This ain't right.... ain't right.
23 March 2016, 08:01
33
"The Shiites complain of marginalization."
Marginalization according to these iranian thugs is not being able to control the economy, the judicial system, the armed forces, the port and airport like they do in Lebanon.
23 March 2016, 10:28
22
Listen to the iranians on this forum: If someone mocks their sayyid they go out and destroy the country and they preach about freedom of speech and freedom of expression of their beloved shia clerics who incite hatred and venom against their own country.
