Events
On November 20, 1979, some 200 dissidents took over Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, taking hundreds of pilgrims present for hajj as hostages. The seizure left the Saudi government paralyzed. Before any military action, the Saudi government secured the permission of the religious establishement, as bloodshed is strictly prohibited in Mecca. Led by Juhaiman ibn Muhammad ibn Saif al Utaibi, belonging to a powerful Sunni family, the dissidents (men and women) were apparently protesting at the ruling Saudi dynasty. They claimed that the Saud family was corrupt, ostentatious and had destroyed Saudi culture by an aggressive policy of Westernization.[1]
The Saudi Special Security Force, which is the equivalent of a special weapons assault team (SWAT), was organized in response to the poor performance of the National Guard during the Grand Mosque seizure.Pakistani and French security forces retook the shrine in a battle which left approximately 250 dead, and 600 wounded. Pakistani and French troops reportedly entered the Grand Mosque and flooded it with water; applied electricity to it; and electrocuted most of the rebels. Other reports said that paralyzing gas was used. Still others say the highly trained French GIGN counter-terrorist commandos led the assault after receiving an instant conversion to Islam by Saudi religious leaders. The Pakistanis and French were called in after poor results from assaults by the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG). 127 were reported to have been killed. al Utaibi, was a member of SANG and some guardsmen were reported to have joined the rebels. This would have been especially shocking to the Saudi ruling family. The Saudi Army was not used as it is comprised of the poorer elements of Saudi society, while SANG's officers come from the upper strata. SANG was established as the crown prince's "personal army" and to protect the royal family from a coup by the regular military. To insure loyalty, SANG is mainly recruited from the tribes that have traditionally been most loyal to the al Saud family. The anxiety created by the poor results of SANG's assaults led to the calling in of the French and Pakistanis. The confusion stems from the fact that infidels(non-Muslims)are not allowed in the Holy City of Medina and especially the Grand Mosque enclosing the Sacred Kaaba. The Saudis, worried about their legitimacy in the Islamic world, do not mention the French in their official stories. Other official type statemnts say they were only used as advisors. Thus the number of French GIGN used varies from 3 to 40. The rebels' leader, Juhayman, was killed and 63 of his fellow rebels were publicly beheaded. Saudi television broadcast the executions live.
On November 20, 1979, some 200 dissidents took over Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, taking hundreds of pilgrims present for hajj as hostages. The seizure left the Saudi government paralyzed. Before any military action, the Saudi government secured the permission of the religious establishement, as bloodshed is strictly prohibited in Mecca. Led by Juhaiman ibn Muhammad ibn Saif al Utaibi, belonging to a powerful Sunni family, the dissidents (men and women) were apparently protesting at the ruling Saudi dynasty. They claimed that the Saud family was corrupt, ostentatious and had destroyed Saudi culture by an aggressive policy of Westernization.[1]
The Saudi Special Security Force, which is the equivalent of a special weapons assault team (SWAT), was organized in response to the poor performance of the National Guard during the Grand Mosque seizure.Pakistani and French security forces retook the shrine in a battle which left approximately 250 dead, and 600 wounded. Pakistani and French troops reportedly entered the Grand Mosque and flooded it with water; applied electricity to it; and electrocuted most of the rebels. Other reports said that paralyzing gas was used. Still others say the highly trained French GIGN counter-terrorist commandos led the assault after receiving an instant conversion to Islam by Saudi religious leaders. The Pakistanis and French were called in after poor results from assaults by the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG). 127 were reported to have been killed. al Utaibi, was a member of SANG and some guardsmen were reported to have joined the rebels. This would have been especially shocking to the Saudi ruling family. The Saudi Army was not used as it is comprised of the poorer elements of Saudi society, while SANG's officers come from the upper strata. SANG was established as the crown prince's "personal army" and to protect the royal family from a coup by the regular military. To insure loyalty, SANG is mainly recruited from the tribes that have traditionally been most loyal to the al Saud family. The anxiety created by the poor results of SANG's assaults led to the calling in of the French and Pakistanis. The confusion stems from the fact that infidels(non-Muslims)are not allowed in the Holy City of Medina and especially the Grand Mosque enclosing the Sacred Kaaba. The Saudis, worried about their legitimacy in the Islamic world, do not mention the French in their official stories. Other official type statemnts say they were only used as advisors. Thus the number of French GIGN used varies from 3 to 40. The rebels' leader, Juhayman, was killed and 63 of his fellow rebels were publicly beheaded. Saudi television broadcast the executions live.
No comments:
Post a Comment