70 vs. 15 -- Saudi Teen and 70-year-old divorce granted

JIZAN, Saudi Arabia (Jan 10, Thu) – According to CNN report, citing Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Commission, a divorce has been granted in the case of a Saudi teenager, actually just 15-year-old, who was wedded to a 70-year-old man just few days back.

70 vs. 15 -- Saudi Teen and 70-year-old divorce granted

The name of the senior Saudi citizen was not disclosed but he claimed that the girl was not just 15 but she was actually 25-year-old. He also told that he was fooled by the family of the girl for whom he paid a dowry of about $20K.

“She is not 15 as everybody claims,” he said. “She’s 25 years old and she’s mature enough to make her own decisions… I was fooled by the girl’s family.”

The father of the teenager is believed to be Yemeni, but her mother is Saudi national. The family is from Al-Hurath village in Jizan province, in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen, according to Dr. Hadi Al-Yami, the head of the Aseer branch of the Human Rights Commission. The group is backed by the Saudi government.

The Human Rights Commission, backed by the Saudi government, sent an investigator to the courthouse in Al-Hurath, Al-Yami – the head of Aseer branch of the HRC - said, and is planning to offer the girl and her family as much help as she’s able to receive, particularly legal help in case the courts require her to formally dispute the marriage.

Teen divorce, Saudi Teen, Human Rights Commission, Al-Hurath village, 

No comments from Saudi authorities as BBC report shows Saudi weapons in Syrian rebel base

ALEPPO, Syria (Tue, Oct. 09) - Reported by madn3wz

No comments from Saudi authorities as BBC report shows Saudi weapons in Syrian rebel base

Weapons and ammunition that were actually intended for the Saudi military have allegedly been diverted to Syrian rebel base, according to recently released video footage.

Three big crates, having almost 90 kgs of gross weight, from a Ukrainian arms manufacturer addressed to Saudi Arabia have been seen in a Syrian rebel base in the city of Aleppo - a stronghold of the so-called 'Free Syrian Army', BBC television reported.  

The presence of such weapons clearly suggests that some Persian Gulf countries are against the President Assad's regime and helping the rebels. 

Saudi Arabian authorities refused to comment on the issue. 

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

According to the report, the crates of ammunition found in an Aleppo mosque were made by the Ukrainian firm Dastan, Luhansk Cartridge Works (LCW), founded in 1895 and specializes in naval weapons and missile complexes. 

In Soviet Union times, the firm majorly supplied cartridges for Soviet military use but later on diversified into sports and hunting markets. One of its key exports is the 7.62mm cartridge used in the AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, which is used by both the Syrian army and rebels, the report said.  

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling the President Bashar al-Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.  

 Report Tags:

Syria, Syrian War, Syrian Rebels, Free Syrian Army, Saudi Weapon, Saudi Weapon in Syria,

Riyadh: Saudi woman confronting religious police over nail polish issue (Video goes viral)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Mon, may 28) – A video of a Saudi woman defying the orders of religious police over breaking modesty rules with her nail polished fingers has gone viral after she posted it on the YouTube.

Saudi woman confronting religious police over nail polish issue (Pic Credit: Youtube)

 The three and a half minute video posted on May 23 shows members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice telling the women to “get out of here (the mall).”

The cops from religious police ordered the unidentified lady to leave the shopping mall because she has painted her nails which is against the rules prevailing in the country.

But the lady refused to comply, saying: “I’m staying and I want to know what you’re going to do about. It’s none of your business if I wear nail polish,” the lady, who is not seen on tape, is heard shouting at religious cops with beard.

it has ignited a debate in Saudi Arabia over the way that members of the commission should deal with people in public places. The video shows several men in traditional Saudi dress, who have apparently stopped the woman to chastise her for the immodesty of her freshly manicured nails.

One of the men orders the woman to leave the mall, but she refuses and the pair become embroiled in a heated argument in the middle of the mall's concourse.

"The government didn't send you to follow me," she yells at them. "The government said there would be no persecution (of women). Your job is to advise people and move on. You have no right to harass anyone."

A probe has been opened into the incident, the Gazette reported.

Watch the video with English subtitles below:

Report Tags: Saudi Arabia, Religious force, Religious Police, Saudi Woman, Woman with nail polish, Video, Youtube, Nail Polish, Fashion in Saudi Arabia,

OBL family deported to Saudi Arabia via chartered plane

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Fri, Apr 27) – Pakistan has reportedly deported 14-member family, including 3 wives and 11 children plus grand children, of slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia on Friday morning via a chartered plane.    

OBL family deported to Saudi Arabia via chartered plane

The family lawyer has confirmed the news while talking to the Reuters. “Yes, they’re being deported to Saudi Arabia,” said Aamir Khalil, the family lawyer. “It is a special flight.”

The plane departed at about 1:30 a.m. (2030 GMT) for Saudi Arabia, according to local TV channels. The destination of the flight in Saudi Arabia was not known.

Pakistan detained the Bin Laden’s family after the Al Qaeda leader was killed in a U.S. raid on May 2 last year.

Experts say once outside Pakistan, the family could disclose details about how the world's most wanted person was able to hide in Pakistan for years, probably assisted by pro-militancy elements of its powerful military and spy agency.

The family were interrogated by Pakistani intelligence agents and eventually charged last month with illegally entering and living in the country. (Reported earlier this month, read HERE)

Report Tags: Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, Al-Qaeda, Al Qaeda leader, Family of Bin Laden, Bin Laden family, bin Laden family deported,

Sri Lankan woman faces beheading in Saudi Arabia for alleged witchcraft

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Thu, Apr 19) - A Sri Lankan woman was detained yesterday (Wednesday, April 18) by security forces on suspicion of casting a spell on a Saudi girl, 13, during family's shopping trip.

Sri Lankan woman faces beheading in Saudi Arabia for alleged witchcraft

According to details based on local newspaper Okaz report; the father of the girl reported to security staff of the shopping mall, in port city of Jeddah, after he noticed that his daughter had "suddenly started acting in an abnormal way, and that happened after she came close to the Sri Lankan woman.

The security staff reacted swiftly to arrest the Sri Lankan woman.  

A police spokesperson, Mesfir al-Juayed, said after the detention of the suspicious woman on Wednesday, that she may face death penalty by beheading if she convicted of ‘witchcraft’. 

"The punishment is always beheading for anyone found guilty of witchcraft," a Saudi lawyer and human rights activist, Waleed Abu al-Khair, told Reuters by phone.

For more details …

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-saudi-witchcraft-rights-idUSBRE83H0UM20120418

Report Tags: Saudi Arabia, Beheading in Saudi Arabia, Beheading, Witchcraft, Sri Lankan Woman, Sri Lankan Woman witchcraft in Saudi Arabia, Human rights, Waleed Abu al-Khair, Mesfir al-Juayed

Breaking!!! Saudi deputy consul, Abdullah al-Khalidi, kidnapped in Southern Yemeni city of Aden

ADEN, Yemen (Wed, Mar. 28) – According to a Yemeni security official; unidentified gunmen abducted Saudi Arabia's deputy consul from outside his home in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden on Wednesday.

Saudi diplomat, Abdullah al-Khalidi, kidnapped in Southern Yemeni city of Aden

The gunmen kidnapped Abdullah al-Khalidi as he was about to get into his car and escaped from the scene immediately taking Khalidi in another vehicle, police sources of Mansoura district revealed.

Police and other law enforcement agencies are carrying on a search operation in the city in an effort to locate and release Mr. Khalidi.

Aden is the city neighboring to Yemen's Abyan province where regime forces have been struggling to hold militant groups associated allegedly with Al-Qaeda.

Dhaka under pressure after Riyadh demanded quick probing into murder of Khalaf Al-Ali

DHAKA, Bangladesh (Wed, Mar. 07) – Security is on high alert after a Saudi Arabian diplomat has been shot dead last night (Tuesday, March 06) in a commercial area of Bangladeshi capital.

Dhaka under pressure after Riyadh demanded quick probing into murder of Khalaf Al-Ali

According to details; Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem Al-Ali was shifted to a local hospital in serious condition after he was shot in the chest where he was declared dead after being treated for three hours in intensive care.

The 45-year-old diplomat was on the late-night walk when he was shot by an unknown person (approximately at 1:20 am local time) at an intersection just two buildings away from his residence in the city’s Gulshan area, police deputy commissioner Lutful Kabir told in media briefing.

“He was hit by a bullet in the left chest,” Kabir said further.

Another senior police source, Nizamul Hoque, told AFP the diplomat had been living alone in a rented apartment in Gulshan for many years.

Khalaf Al-Ali was working as second secretary at the consular division of the embassy in Dhaka. He was on transfer orders to move to the Saudi Embassy in Amman, Jordan, after two months.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Office issued a statement in which they had demanded, on behalf of Saudi government, swift investigation from the Bangladeshi government and further requested ample protection for all the staff working at its embassy in Dhaka.

Mohammed Shahidul Islam, Bangladesh Ambassador in the Saudi Arabia, expressed the tragic incident as a dreadful crime that sent shock waves throughout the Kingdom as well as Bangladesh.

“We have intensified the investigation process in Dhaka and we are fully confident that the people involved in this murder will be brought to book,” Islam said.

Project Simoom: Sweden building arms factory in Saudi Arabia -- Svergies Radio Reports

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Tue, Mar. 06) – According to the top covert files that have recently been made public; the Swedish Defence Research Agency (Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut, FOI) has been assisting Saudi Arabia in building an advanced arms factory. 

Project Simoom: Sweden building arms factory in Saudia Arabia

The confidential papers received by Svergies Radio revealed that the said project was started in 2007 and contains plans to build 35 buildings.

Svergies Radio further claimed that the Swedish government had knowledge of the project, code named as ‘Simoom’. FOI head Jan-Olof Linde, however, denied the report, and stated repeatedly that such a plan does not exist.

“Today we have no ongoing projects with that country, so I have no comments because we don’t have any project,” Linde said to Svergies Radio.

When asked deeper questions, Linde remained halt.

“The answer is no. Really! Don’t you hear what I’m saying,” he told representative of Svergies Radio.

Jan Erik Lövgren of the Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls (ISP), stated however that the FOI still has plans involving Saudi Arabia.

“I understand that there is some form of dialogue with the Saudis,” he said.

The radio station claimed that the secret government documents stated that the project “pushes the boundaries of what is possible for a Swedish agency," according to SR.

Saudi Arabia is regarded as one of the world's strictest dictatorships by a number of human rights organizations. Nevertheless, Sweden still has a military cooperation with the country.

Serial Killer, Awdhah, Sentenced to Death by Saudi Arabia Shariah Court

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Wed, Feb. 29) – A Saudi citizen has been awarded a death penalty by the Saudi Arabia Shariah Court on account of raping and killing several house maids.

Serial Killer, Awdhah, Senteced to Death by Saudi Arabia Shariah Court

 According to reports published in 'Al Hayat' newspaper; the accused Awdhah, also known as ‘Serial Killer’, has rejected the verdict of the court and aimed to appeal against it.

According to details; Awdhah is accused of attracting housemaids and raping them before killing them. He even spoiled the dead body of one of them.

Awdhah confessed of killing an Asian girl, named as Halima, two years back in Yanbu by beating and choking her with a pillow and buried her in a sandy area on Yanbu Palm Road.

He also confessed murdering of two more housemaids and buried them in deserted places. He further told that he poured benzene on the third victim, also an Asian girl, to deform her body before burying her in the same way.

Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal purchased $300 million stakes in Twitter

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, - nephew of Saudi King who earlier this month was declared as the Arab world’s richest business man - announced the purchase of a $300 million stakes in microblogging site Twitter.

Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal purchased $300 million stakes in Twitter 

According to an emailed statement from Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Company; the huge investment in Twitter by the company is part of a drive “to invest in promising, high-growth businesses with a global impact.”

Prince Alwaleed’s stake is equivalent to 3.6% of the Twitter’s total value of $8.4 billion estimated by the analysts in October this year.

Microblogging site Twitter - allows users to send messages called ‘tweets’ of up to 140 characters each – has achieved recently a land mark of 100 million active users who send 250 million tweets per day.

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Saudi King to use authority to reverts cross amputation sentences of 6 Saudis: Amnesty International

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Dec. 17) – Six Saudi citizens facing ‘Cross amputation’ - elimination of their right hands and left feet – on account of “highway robbery” must have their sentences reverte by the King, Amnesty International said today.

Saudi King to use authority to reverts cross amputation sentences of 6 Saudis

The sentence of ‘Cross amputation’ is presently before the Supreme Court for endorsement and could take place in the coming days if also approved by the King.

The Amnesty International has urged the Saudi King to use his authority to immediately alter these sentences and save these men from awful punishment.

The six men, all from Bedouin tribes, were detained in October 2010 from Riyadh, on account of alleged “highway robbery” and shifted to Malaz prison. All were reportedly beaten and forced to admit to the allegations against them.

No lawyer or legal assistance was available for all of them when they were presented to General Court in Riyadh, which sentenced them ‘Cross amputation’ in March 2011. The sentence was upheld in October by an appellate court.

Punishment by amputation is enforced in Saudi Arabia for offences mainly limited to cases of “theft”, for which the sentence is amputation of the right hand, and “highway robbery”, which is punished by cross amputation (right hand and left foot).

The organization said that the use of “cross amputation” amounts to torture, violating Saudi Arabia's obligations under international human rights law.

“Carrying out a sentence like this would make a mockery of the fact that Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the international Convention against Torture” said Philip Luther.

“The Saudi Arabian authorities should take immediate steps to abolish this practice once and for all.”

The six men facing ‘Cross amputation’ are Barzan bin Raheel al-Shammari, aged 29, Amer bin Eid al-Jarba’, aged 26, Muhammad bin Ali al-Shammari, aged 25, Muhammad bin Dhiyab Maddhi, aged 27, Abdullah bin Dhiyab Maddhi, aged 30, and Bandar bin Abbas al-As’adi, aged 22.

Osama bin Laden's Yemeni wife Amal started hunger strike against unlawful detention in Pakistan: British media

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Dec. 10) – One of the three wives of Osama bin Laden has reportedly started hunger strike today (Saturday, Dec. 10) claiming that her detention in Pakistan is unlawful, British media reported.

Osama bin Laden's Yemeni wife Amal started hunger strike against unlawful detention in Pakistan

According to details; Osama bin Laden’s Yemeni wife Amal has announced her hunger strike till her freedom from detention. Her hunger strike call came hours after Pakistan announced that the other two wives of Bin Laden will travel back to their native country Saudi Arabia within one week; but Amal would not be traveled to her native country Yemen because of the refusal of Yemeni Authorities to accept her.

Amal’s brother Ahmed Zakriya has also confirmed the reports and told that Amal has started her hunger strike today and will continue until she will also be freed from detention.

All three of Bin Laden’s wives held in Pakistan after the raid in May that killed their husband and since then they were under the detention of Pakistan’s security agencies. With an official Pakistani inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the raid now complete, the Saudi wives - Khairiah Sabar and Siham Sabar - were free to go to Saudi Araboa as the Kindom has already restored their citizenship which was canceled in 1994 along with their husband Osama bin Laden.