JEDDAH, 9 August 2005 — In a day of dramatic developments and in a show of magnanimity, King Abdullah just seven days into his reign, pardoned three jailed dissidents and a group of Libyans who had plotted to assassinate him.
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has issued an order to pardon and release the following prisoners: Abdullah Al-Hamid, Matrouk Al-Faleh, Ali Al-Damini and Saeed ibn Zaeer, who are serving jail sentences, as well as Abdul Rahman Al-Lahem, whose case is still in the court,” Interior Minister Prince Naif said, and praised the king’s kind gesture.
The news brought relief and tears of joy to their families.
“I can’t tell you my feeling right now, it’s incredible!” said Ammer Al-Faleh, the son of Matrouk Al-Faleh, in a phone interview.
“We are extremely happy. We knew that it was coming, but we were not 100 percent sure until we heard it officially announced on TV at 9:30 p.m. tonight,” he explained. “They might be coming home tonight or tomorrow, we’re not sure yet.”
They had been sentenced on May 15 to jail terms ranging from six to nine years for sowing dissent and disobeying the ruler.
Their lawyer Al-Lahem, who was arrested last December, had never been sentenced by a court but had been held in jail since then.
Reaction from Saudis was overwhelmingly positive, with all those interviewed saying that King Abdullah had lived up to his reputation of being a staunch supporter of reforms and of being close to the people.
“This is a reflection of the humane spirit of King Abdullah. I am not surprised that he released the Saudi activists as well as the Libyans who plotted to murder him,” said Saud Abdul Ghani Sabbagh, a Saudi businessman from Makkah.
“This is a good move. King Abdullah is a great man and has the interest of the nation at heart,” said Yasin Alireza, a Jeddah businessman.
Anas Khashoggi, also a businessman, called it “a bold decision.” It takes into consideration the general welfare of the country, he added.
“The release of the three reformists was the right thing to do,” said Riyadh-based political analyst Adel Al-Toraifi. “It will show those released that there is a new environment of change.”
“This is a welcome sympathetic gesture from the new king,” said Dr. Abdullah Moopan, an Indian psychiatrist working in Jeddah, about the release of the reformists. “This kind of action will encourage people to reform themselves,” he added.
“I feel this is a very significant development; King Abdullah is demonstrating that he really has the reins of state firmly in his hands and is showing that he is confident enough of his authority to feel comfortable with challenging ideas,” said Roger Harrison, a British journalist working in the Kingdom for the past 10 years.
“I think this sets the scene for more open and very healthy exchange of ideas and dialogue between groups in the Kingdom whose ideas are not in the mainstream but could contribute to future policy decisions and Saudi Arabia’s stance on the world political stage,” Harrison said.
Earlier, King Abdullah declared the amnesty of the Libyan plotters while presiding over the first Cabinet meeting since he took over power on Aug. 1 following King Fahd’s death.
“King Abdullah told the Cabinet that he had pardoned the Libyan detainees who were implicated, according to the evidence, in the plot to undermine the Kingdom’s security and stability,” the Saudi Press Agency said, quoting Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani.
Madani said the royal gesture was in line with Saudi Arabia’s principle that aims to strengthen Arab unity. “I hope this will be taken as a constructive step toward unifying Arab ranks,” he quoted the king as saying.
The minister did not say how many Libyans were involved in the plot. According to a report carried by Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News in March, 13 suspects - eight Saudis and five Libyans - had been detained for involvement in the assassination attempt.
Saudi officials said the Libyan plot to assassinate the then Crown Prince Abdullah in late 2003 was cloaked to look like an Al-Qaeda-inspired domestic revolt and was broken up only days before it was to have been carried out.
The Libyans were caught delivering more than $1 million in cash at a hotel in Makkah to Saudis hired to assassinate the crown prince. The Libyan agents had recruited the Saudis to launch grenades and other explosives into Prince Abdullah’s apartment in Makkah, the report said.
Last December, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador in Tripoli and expelled the Libyan envoy. Tripoli has denied involvement in any such plot. Libya sent a delegation to Riyadh last week to convey its condolences on King Fahd’s death.
Saudi political analysts described King Abdullah’s gesture as a positive start. “This is a good start for a new era. By declaring amnesty to those who plotted to kill him, King Abdullah tells the world that he is a man of peace, tolerance and Arab unity. To be a great leader one must keep away from vested interests and personal emotions,” Dr. Khaled Batarfi, managing editor of Al-Madinah Arabic daily, told Arab News.
“By pardoning the Libyans, the king is following the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who after his Makkah victory, declared amnesty for all his enemies in the interest of unity and as a peace offer to start a new era,” Batarfi pointed out.
“This humanitarian gesture by King Abdullah shows his nobility,” stated Saudi political analyst Abdul Aziz Al-Hindi, adding that Abdullah has always worked for Arab unity and solidarity. Mahmoud Laoota, a Sudanese journalist, also commended the royal gesture, saying it reflected the king’s intent to open the door of reconciliation.
Addressing the Cabinet meeting, King Abdullah paid homage to King Fahd, who ruled the Kingdom for 23 years. He noted the late king’s efforts in the expansions of the two Holy Mosques, the printing and distribution of Qur’an copies and defending just causes at Arab, regional and international levels.
“We and the world have lost a unique leader who had dedicated his life to the progress of his country and prosperity of his people as well as for establishing the truth and helping the oppressed. He also made effective and courageous contributions toward reinforcing peace and stability all over the world,” the king said.
King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia would not deviate from the path set by its founder King Abdul Aziz, adding that it would uphold the Shariah. He also said the Kingdom’s foreign policies would remain unchanged.
“We are determined to continue our efforts in the service of Islam, to realize more progress and prosperity for our people, support Arab and Islamic causes, bolster world peace and stability and economic progress,” King Abdullah told the Cabinet.
He thanked world leaders and foreign delegates for expressing their true feelings on King Fahd’s demise and standing by the Kingdom to face this great loss.
He also commended the Saudis for turning up in large numbers to pledge their allegiance to the new leadership.
Madani said the Cabinet had also approved the addition of two new articles to the anti-forgery law, which said those involved in forging credit cards or ATM cards would be jailed for not more than 10 years or fined not more than SR50,000 or face both punishments.
The law also covers those who make fake bank cards or imitation cards or change their data or photos as well as those involved in the crime through inciting, agreement or abeting and those who intentionally use forged cards.
“Those who forge photographs or documents saved in computers or CDs or through any other means and those who use them after knowing that the cards have been forged will be punished in accordance with this law,” one new article said.
Other important decisions taken by the Cabinet were: Approval of the memorandum of understanding signed with China in September last year for consultation between foreign ministries in the two countries; and approval for holding talks with Turkey to sign an agreement for judicial cooperation.
— With input from Abdul Hannan Tago
