“The Interior Ministry only publishes the names of those who are on the wanted list but not those who been brainwashed by terrorist organizations,” said ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki
“These measures are taken so it will not defame the families of brainwashed victims and not cause embarrassment to them because it’s not their fault.”
He added that the ministry identifies only those who had previously been mentioned on the wanted list, or those who are already captured or killed.
The department expects more terrorism sympathizers to turn themselves in.
“The awareness level has been increased among the majority of the sympathizers. They have discovered the truth behind the organization’s deviant ideology and the reality of its activities,” Al-Turki said. The unidentified man, believed to be in his 20’s, had contacted his family expressing his willingness to return to Saudi Arabia and surrender himself to the authorities. The ministry made arrangements for the man to be reunited with his family after he returned.
Al-Turki’s statement came after Saudi militant and former Al-Qaeda sympathizer Oqail Omaish Al-Mutairy surrendered to security authorities.
Last March, Saudi security forces arrested 113 militants who were planning to carry out terrorist attacks on a number of targets inside the Kingdom. In February this year, a wanted Saudi terrorist was also arrested in Yanbu.
Terror suspects still have the opportunity to turn themselves in and return to the right path, Al-Turki said, adding that special teams have been set up to track down these terrorists. In February 2009, Saudi Arabia published a list of 85 suspected militants wanted around the world. The Kingdom said the men had been drawn to “deviant” ideologies — a reference to the Al-Qaeda terror network. The list included 83 Saudis and two Yemenis.
