In the interview, Al-Fifi will speak about his experiences, how he was recruited by Al-Qaeda, his travels to “havens of terrorism” and how he became an expert in explosives. The interview will be broadcast in the program Himoumina (Our Concerns).
On his release from Guantanamo Bay, 36-year-old Al-Fifi was brought back to the Kingdom and made to join a rehabilitation program initiated by Prince Muhammad bin Naif. He, however, managed to escape to Yemen where he rejoined Al-Qaeda but then subsequently gave himself up to Saudi authorities and announced that he had repented of deviant thought.
This will be Al-Fifi’s second appearance on TV in which he speaks about terrorist organizations, and how they recruit young men and women and make them hostile to the Kingdom.
In his first appearance on Saudi TV on Nov. 29, Al-Fifi, who was born in Taif and codenamed Abu Jafaar Al-Ansari, spoke about the plans and conspiracies being carried out by organizations connected to foreign powers to attack Saudi targets and interests. He said these plans were made in coordination with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in the mountains of Yemen.
Adel Al-Sobaie, associate professor at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, and Saeed Al-Siraiha, a researcher in youth issues, will participate in the program and speak about the exploitation of youth for devious purposes from the religious and social perspectives. They will also highlight the factors that drive young men and women to adopt an extremist mindset.
The program gains special importance in the light of a recent announcement by the Ministry of Interior that it has arrested 149 members of organizations that hold devious thoughts. The ministry said the detainees were planning terrorist acts against Saudi organizations and personalities.
