JEDDAH, 23 July 2004 — Two terrorists wanted in connection with a series of bombings and shooting incidents that have rocked Saudi Arabia over the past two years surrendered to the authorities yesterday just hours before the expiry of a royal pardon.
In the meantime, attempts by a leading Saudi cleric to extend the deadline bore no fruits as the authorities refused any extension of the one-month amnesty announced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd on June 23. The amnesty expired last night.
One of the two terrorists, Fawzan ibn Nasser ibn Ahmad Al-Fawzan arrived in the Kingdom yesterday from Syria where he surrendered to the Saudi Embassy in Damascus. The other, Fayez ibn Rasheed ibn Muhammad Al-Khushman Al-Dosari, surrendered to security forces in the summer resort city of Taif. Both declared their desire to benefit from the amnesty.
The Ministry of Interior has said that all those who want to turn themselves in must do so by the end of Thursday.
“The Ministry wishes to remind all that the deadline of the amnesty call made to those who had strayed off the path of Islam expires on Thursday evening,” a ministry statement said adding that those abroad who wish to be covered by the amnesty had to contact the authorities before the deadline expired.
Twelve people on the 26-strong list of most wanted terrorists issued last year are still at large. The others were either killed in clashes with security forces or have surrendered.
The Saudi Press Agency said Al-Fawzan contacted the embassy in Damascus expressing his desire to return with his family. He arrived in Riyadh with his wife and daughter. Other members of his family met him at the airport.
Al-Dosari was the latest suspect to turn himself in last night hours before the end of the amnesty offer.
The amnesty, announced on television on behalf of King Fahd by Crown Prince Abdullah, said all those affiliated to this group which wronged itself and who were not captured have a chance to return to God and engage in soul-searching. Those who turn themselves in of their own will be secure in the security of God as far as they are concerned, and will be treated according to God’s law pertaining to the rights of others.
A series of terrorist attacks in the Kingdom, beginning with that in May 2003 on a residential compound in Riyadh have killed nearly 90 people, Saudis and foreigners alike, and resulted in the destruction of public and private property.
The announcement of the amnesty was coupled with a warning of doom for those who ignore it.
“The rational who will take up (the offer) will be secure. As for those who spurn it, by God, our forbearance will not prevent us from striking with the full force we draw from our reliance on God.”
It carries a guarantee of personal safety for those who repent while reserving the right of individuals harmed by terror acts to either seek redress through the courts or waive any claims.
The latest shootout, on Tuesday night, killed two extremists during raids by police that also led to the discovery in a refrigerator of the head of US hostage Paul Johnson, kidnapped last month by suspected Al-Qaeda members.
Sheikh Safar Al-Hawali who has been mediating with the terrorists said other extremists are willing to surrender and need more time, including at least two on the most-wanted list. He said he had a list of up to 20 names.
“It takes time to convince them. We will list the names of anyone declaring his willingness to talk,” he was quoted by Agence France Presse as saying.
The Ministry of Interior said anyone wanting to surrender but living in remote areas could declare their willingness before the deadline while procedures would be completed later.
“Crown Prince Abdullah suggested collecting the names of those willing to negotiate a surrender. They will be included regardless of the period needed to conclude negotiations,” he said adding he had a list which he would present to the Crown Prince.
Saudi officials have repeatedly urged members of the deviant group to repent. The latest advice came from Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
“We hope that those remaining will be reasonable enough to use the period left to turn themselves in,” he said.
The Kingdom also said 27 wanted men had been handed over to its security forces from other countries.
