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Sectarian Violence Erupts in Saudi Arabia
The eruption of violence between Saudi security forces and armed Ismaili tribesmen in the southwestern province of Najran earlier this month may be an indication that the much-heralded stability of the kingdom is slipping away.
According to Arabic press reports, the disturbances began on April 23, when the government-backed Mataw'a (religious police) stormed a major mosque in Najran belonging to the Ismaili sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam which has about 50,000-100,00 adherents in Saudi Arabia and 20,000-50,000 in neighboring Yemen, seized various religous texts housed inside and arrested three clergymen. Local Ismailis reacted by opening fire on the security forces and torching their vehicles, leading to clashes in which 40 people were killed and scores injured. The army was soon called in and began a widepread sweep of the area, making numerous arrests. Hundreds of Ismailis marched to the palace of Prince Mish'al, the local governor assumed to be responsible for the mosque's closure. Mish'al fled to a nearby Holiday Inn before eventually agreeing to meet with a delegation representing the protestors, who demanded greater religious freedom and the release of their jailed clergymen.1
The state-owned Saudi Press Agency later claimed that the unrest occurred after security forces arrested a Yemeni national accused of being a "sorcerer," a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. According to this account (widely dismissed by foreign news sources), followers of the "sorcerer" shot at security forces, touching off a brief clash and 30 more arrests. The Ismaili delegation which met with Mish'al at his "temporary residence" in the Holiday Inn was a matter "not related to the arrest of the sorcerer."2
The clashes came amid heightened tensions in the area after local Ismailis decided for the first time in many years to openly celebrate Ashoura, a holiday commemorating the death of Imam Husseini, a revered 7th century religious figure. Many have speculated that the decision to do so was influenced by a recent Amnesty International campaign to publicize the lack of religious freedom and other human rights abuses in the country. Past improvements in religious rights for Saudi Shi'ites in the eastern provinces of the country came about largely as a result of external pressure from dissident groups abroad. The Ismailis apparently believe they can achieve similar concessions.
Still, though, the clashes have surprised many because the Saudi government has been quite successful over the last several years in diminishing the potential for religious incitement against the government by providing minorities with generous amounts of financial subsidies. In the case of the Ismailis, these funds have been distributed through Sheikh Ali bin Musallam, a leading member of the Ismaili al-Yam tribe and a cabinet minister related by marriage to Prince Sultan, the Saudi Defense Minister. It is likely, local experts say, that bin Musallam has not distributed much of the money he has received to the Ismaili community. Similar levels of corruption could easily disrupt the government's ability to coopt other groups.
The Ismailis, most of whom are members of the al-Yam tribe, which also encompasses several neighboring communities in Yemen, already have considerable armed strength. Moreover, they are highly concentrated geographically and can obtain additional weapons and other forms of assistance from across the border.
1 Al-Quds al-Arabi, 25 April 2000.
2 Asharq al-Awsat, 25 April 2000.
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