The remaining two said they did not have any problem allowing the media to cover the trial at a special criminal court in Riyadh, which is hearing cases against 41 alleged terrorists — 38 Saudis, a Yemeni, a Qatari and an Afghan. The defendants are also accused of funding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, recruiting militants for Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and creating a border pass to facilitate the supply of militants, weapons and funds to Iraq.
Ten defendants were to appear at the court on Monday but one of them could not make it because of special circumstances, a judicial source said. Each defendant has been given a copy of the charges in order to give their replies in the next session to be held after Haj.
So far the court has heard the charges against 28 suspected militants. Today’s hearing started at 10:15 a.m. and continued for an hour and 15 minutes. One defendant said he possessed proof of a Yemeni court verdict that acquitted him of all charges against him.
The public prosecutor read out the charges against Defendant No. 21, which included issuing fatwas (religious edicts) against the rulers and disobeying them. He is also accused of traveling to Iraq to participate in the conflict there and returning to the Kingdom and sheltering Defendant Nos. 20 and 22.
The charges against Defendant No. 22 included joining Al-Qaeda in Iraq under the leadership of Abu Misaab Al-Zarqawi and becoming a member of its Shariah committee.
He is also accused of plotting with Defendant No. 20 and Abu Osama, deputy leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, to open a route for bringing militants from the Kingdom to Iraq. He is also charged with smuggling weapons to the Kingdom.
Defendant No. 23 is charged with joining a terrorist cell to carry out terrorist attacks against US forces in Qatar and pledging allegiance to Defendant No. 1 as the cell’s leader. He was allegedly aware of weapons smuggling from the Kingdom to Qatar. He allegedly sheltered Defendant No. 22 and bought two horses for training militants.
The charges leveled against Defendant No. 24 included participating in the fighting in Iraq and funding terrorist operations. He also arranged a vehicle to take Defendant No. 1 to Hafr Al-Batin. Defendant No. 25 on the other hand is accused of arranging a forged Yemeni ID card for Defendant No. 1 to get a passport and then travel to Iraq, among other charges.
Defendant No. 26 is accused of facilitating the transport of militants to Iraq while Defendant No. 28 is charged with using a forged Iraqi ID card. Defendant No. 29 is accused of giving a Saudi passport to a terror coordinator in Syria. Defendant No. 30 is charged with funding terrorism and terrorist operations.
He is also accused of sheltering a number of militants on the list of 36 most wanted terrorists as well as Defendant No. 13.
