Riyadh: detaining a sheikh in al-Ihsaa over provoking sectarianism
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 10/8/2004

Saudi Arabia's ministry of the interior announce yesterday it detained a Sunni clergy under the charge of provoking "sectarianism" in al-Ihsaa area to the east of the Kingdom, inhabited by a huge number of Shiite minority in the country.

A spokesman for the ministry said that Muhanna Bin Abdul Aziz al-Hubeil who alleged he is a reformer, was detained over violating the rules and provoking sectarianism when he had made of himself a secretary general for a suspected gathering aimed at causing divisions and provoking seditions. Thereby he contradicts what he vowed to -- before specialized sides in earlier violations. Legal measures will be applicable on Al-Hubeil, on which Islamic sources said he was detained in al-Hafhouf city on Wednesday as the chairman of the Islamic national forum. It is an unlicensed Sunni group composed of five members and says it seems to support the rights of citizens in this area.

A Shiite citizen from the people of the area said that al-Hubeil is persistent that his organization welcomes the Shiite. But he added that the majority of the Shiite consider that the group has a "sectarian inclination."

On the other hand, a security source in Riyadh said yesterday that the authorities detained two Saudis following a clash near an inspection point in Riyadh. The source said that the detention operation was made after the two men refused to stop at an inspection point in al-Areija suburb to the south of Riyadh and opened fire at police members. But it did not remark if the two detainees are involved in criminal or terrorist acts.

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