Saudi Shiites threaten to ‘secede’ from Saudi

[Chief Editor]

Saudi Shiites threaten to ‘secede’ from Saudi
First Published 2009-03-14



Shiite leaders lash out at Saudi regime as Riyadh defends itself against discrimination.

By Habib Trabelsi – PARIS

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz categorically rejected accusations of discrimination against the Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia as Shiite leaders threatened of “secession of the Eastern Province" from the oil-rich kingdom.

"We completely reject the clash of sects in our country. We believe that all citizens have equal rights and duties," insisted the minister, speaking from New York where he was at the bedside of the Crown Prince and Defense Minister Sultan bin Abdel Aziz, convalescing after surgery.



"There are foreign parties who seek to cause (an) escalation (between Sunni and Shia), but we are able (...) to prevent any interference in the internal affairs of the country," Prince Nayef warned in a lengthy interview published Saturday by the Saudi daily 'Okaz.

Prince Nayef did not specifically mention Iran, accused in recent days by Saudi Arabia of "interfering" in Arab countries, including the ultra-conservative kingdom, especially after the clashes in February, and between Shiite pilgrims and security forces in the Muslim holy city of Medina in western Saudi Arabia.



Following these incidents, tensions, already strong between Riyadh and Tehran, grew up a notch after a particularly violent attack on the Saudi Sunni regime by Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a provisional imam on Friday prayers at Tehran mosque.

Khatami accused “Saudi rulers of mistreating Shiites” and told the Saudi government to "give Shiite people their rights.” He expressed "Iran’s support to these poor citizens (Saudi Shiites)."

Khatami’s comments were denied by the spokesman of the Iranian government, Gholam-Hossein Elham. However, it did not reduce the tension between the two countries.



Mohammed Al-Qouaihes, a member of the Shura Council, attacked Iran, accusing it of "infiltration into Arab countries to exercise its hegemony", "racing behind the nuclear weapon", “flagrant interference in Arab affairs" and "attempts to sow discord, sedition and unrest in the Gulf."

For its part, the Saudi press continued its vitriolic attacks against the Iranian regime, also accused of giving refuge to members of al-Qaeda, who are part of a list of 85 individuals suspected of preparing terrorist attacks against Saudi Arabia from abroad.



Jamal Banoun, a columnist of Al-Hayat, even called the Gulf countries to "adopt a firm stance with regard to Iran for its actions aimed at undermining security and stability in the Gulf. He called on the Gulf states to "break diplomatic relations with Tehran, like Morocco, in solidarity with Bahrain” which an adviser of Iran's Supreme Leader described as the Islamic republic’s 14th province.

"Saudi Arabia will strongly retaliate to any attempt to disrupt its security or prejudice the sacred places in the kingdom. The kingdom will vehemently retaliate to anyone trying to prejudice the sanctuaries, especially in the Great Mosque of Mecca or the Prophet's Mosque in Medina,” warned Prince Nayef from New York.


Meanwhile, in Qatif of the Eastern Province, one of the main Shiite leaders in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Nimr Baqer Al-Nimr, lashed out at the Saudi regime, calling on Shiites to "be ready to defend themselves" and brandishing the threat of secession from the oil-rich Province.

"Our dignity is better than the unity of this land," said the Shiite leader during the Friday sermon in the town of Al-Awamiya.

Already last Saturday, Saudi Shiite opposition held in front of the Saudi Embassy in London a large rally shouting strong slogans against the Saudi authorities.


L’un des dirigeants de l’opposition, cheikh Yasser Al-Habib, haranguant la foule, a notamment déclaré que «désormais, l’équation a changé. Les chiites (saoudiens) doivent absolument pratiquer leurs rites librement. Autrement, ce sera l’autonomie de la région orientale, voire la sécession de cette province».


One of the opposition leaders, Sheikh Yasser Al-Habib, haranguing the crowd, said that "the equation has now changed. Shiites (Saudis) have to practice their beliefs freely. Otherwise, it will be the autonomy of the Eastern Province and even the secession of this province."

Saudi Shiites make up between 5% to 10%, according to unofficial estimates, while Shiites writers claim they represent between 15% to 20% of the Saudi population which is estimated at 18 million. They are concentrated mainly in the oil-rich Eastern Province adjoining Kuwait and southern Iraq.

Shiites say they suffer discrimination, particularly being banned from holding key positions in military, diplomacy and security and from exercising their religious rites and cultural activities.

The Saudi government is dominated by Sunnis inspired by Wahhabism, a strict doctrine of Sunni Islam.

Sheikh Habib, whose address appears on a video broadcast on Youtube, even called for the "return of the Grand Bahrain", adding that Saudi Shiites were "ready to unite with Iraq, whose government is dominated by Shiites.

After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the rise of Shiites in Iraq, King Abdullah II of Jordan spoke in 2004 of a "growing Shiism, which has awakened the fears of Sunnis to the possible formation of a set of predominantly Shiite regions from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean, concentrating around Iran, which controls almost all hydrocarbon resources.
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This article was translated by Dr. Saad Guerraoui, Senior Editor at Middle East Online