JEDDAH: The families of five Saudi men involved in terror activities reported their loved ones to local authorities while a sixth man turned himself in for adopting "takfiri" ideology (labeling other Muslims as infidels), the Interior Ministry announced yesterday.
The calls were received on the local hot line No. 990, which is operated by the Interior Ministry and is specifically aimed at people who want to report suspected terror-related activities.
A ministry statement said that a woman and four men called the hot line to turn in their loved ones. "This illustrates the high level of awareness that has been achieved by the public," said Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki.
The man who turned himself in was from Rabigh and sought help and guidance before his thoughts turned into violent actions, according to the statement. The man has reportedly been referred to religious scholars and therapists and his family has been brought into the rehabilitation process.
The men who turned in their sons reportedly told officials that their sons had left to join jihad. The men were picked up at the airport of a neighboring country. The Interior Ministry statement did not specify which country. The ministry's statement shed some light on the condition of the son of the fourth man, who said he received a call from an anonymous person informing him that his son, who disappeared two years ago when he was 16, had been injured and was trying to return home on his brother's passport which he had used to travel to one of the region's "disturbed areas".
According to the statement, the son was planning a suicide attack, but backed out only to have his fellow terrorists turn on him. The report said the young man was then subjected to mental and physical abuse, but did not explain whether the young man managed to escape or was released.
Saudi authorities managed to locate and repatriate the young Saudi, who is now in a rehabilitation program. Authorities have said the actions of the father will be taken into consideration when they decide what to do with the young man.
In the case of the woman who turned in her husband, the ministry statement said she first went to a religious scholar who then informed the authorities. The man had managed to leave the country to join jihad, but authorities claim they succeeded in convincing him to return. He is also currently undergoing rehabilitation.
