A Saudi imam and scholar who is believed to have been arrested in August of 2020 and held without charge for over two years has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for his alleged role in leading prayers at the then Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul in 2014 (prior to its July 2020 reclassification as a mosque by Turkish authorities). [1]
Saudi prosecutors have not disclosed the specific charges against Shaykh Dr. Abdullah Basfar, but the rights group Prisoners of Conscience has claimed in a social media post that he was subjected to various forms of harassment by investigators during his two-year remand.
The New Arab reports that the scholar previously held the position of associate professor in Sharia and Islamic Studies at the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. [1]
Along with the latest reported case of Shaykh Dr. Abdullah Basfar, the Saudi Arabian government and judiciary have been criticised for their alleged role in the detention and forced disappearances of dozens of Muslim scholars, many of whom are believed to have openly expressed opposition or resistance to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans to liberalise and westernise Saudi society. [2]
Indeed, Sanad – which is another rights group – recently launched a campaign aimed at calling out Saudi Arabia for its claimed involvement in the human rights violations and death sentences made against prominent members of society, including journalists, academics, scholars, and other public figures. [2]
Biden attracts sudden ire of Saudi government
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February of this year, global energy prices have sharply increased. Many economies including those in Europe and Asia are feeling the pinch and with winter quickly setting in, a lot of people have felt that they have no choice but to turn up the radiators.
In an attempt to force Saudi Arabia – which is the world’s largest exporter of crude oil and a founding member of Opec (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) – to backtrack on its recent move to reduce oil production, US president Joe Biden has warned that the country will face the “consequences” of its actions. [3] [4]
Biden said in a CNN interview,
“There’s going to be some consequences for what they’ve done, with Russia… I’m not going to get into what I’d consider and what I have in mind. But there will be – there will be consequences.” [4]
The US president has condemned Saudi Arabia for apparently siding with Russia, while it continues to wage its war against Ukraine. Crucially, Russia is the world’s second-largest exporter of crude oil and plays a major role in the direction that the 13-member Opec chooses to move. While the Ukraine-Russia conflict continues, the role of Saudi Arabian oil production is a key area that the US administration had been attempting to explore.
Following Biden and Democratic congressional leaders’ criticism of Saudi Arabia’s decision to reduce oil output, a viral video has been making the rounds on social media. In the video, Mohammed bin Salman’s cousin, prince Saud al-Shaalan, is seen threatening “anybody who challenges the existence of this kingdom”, while stating that “we are all projects of jihad and martyrdom.” [5]
Saudi Arabia providing indirect backing to Russia
As has been widely reported, when Biden attempted to engage with Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the UAE in February/ March 2022, they both reportedly gave him the cold shoulder and declined to return his calls. [6]
Biden’s strong rebuke and threatening words come in sharp contrast to just a few months earlier, when the 46th US president visited Saudi Arabia (and Israel). During the Saudi leg of his Middle East trip, he met with Mohammed bin Salman under optimistic undertones, with talk of a potential Nato-style Arab-Israeli air defence network. Such was the positive mood that Biden was even pictured fist-bumping the crown prince.
However, the former CIA analyst Bruce Riedel has warned that Biden is now in a particularly challenging position, with mid-term elections looming large and congressional leaders keen for firm action to be taken against Saudi Arabia.
“We went from engaging [Mohammed bin Salman] to back to him being a pariah… I think the pressure from within the Democratic party is enormous. The administration will have to take some step like reducing American forces. The media, and constituencies that matter to Democrats are all demanding steps.” [4]
Given the rapidly chilling oil output issue, the two governments now seem closer to a full-on diplomatic falling out, as opposed to any agreements concerning an increase in oil production or establishing an ambitious new regional air defence alliance. [7]
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/saudi-who-led-prayers-hagia-sophia-gets-12-year-jail-term
[2] https://www.islam21c.com/campaigns/campaign-launched-against-saudi-regime-to-stopexecutingscholars/
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63149044
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/11/biden-signals-rethink-over-saudi-ties-amid-anger-at-cuts-in-oil-output
[5] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-mohammed-bin-salman-cousin-threatens-west-jihad-martyrdom
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/09/saudi-arabia-and-uae-leaders-decline-calls-with-biden-amid-fears-of-oil-price-spike
[7] https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/87662
“Saudi prosecutors have not disclosed the specific charges against Shaykh Dr. Abdullah Basfar”
Presumably he’s broken the unwritten law. Perhaps even the unspoken law.
If the “crime” was committed in 2012, why wait eight years before arresting him? It wasn’t secret. Why spend two years deciding what to charge him with, if he’s been charged with anything? Surely the whole affair ought to be a concern of the Turkish government, not the Saudis.
I don’t get it, how is praying at the Haiga Sophia mosque worthy of imprisonment? Is it because the Saudi and Turkish government aren’t on good terms? Or is it just being used a cover for the real reason, like him criticizing the Saudi gov or something?
And I wonder how this beef between Saudi & Biden will end up.
I appreciate you taking the time to comment, I’m also quite interested to see how the US- Saudi mini standoff progresses. At the moment, it doesn’t seem like much more than ‘talk’, but you never know with these things, sometimes.
I’m not too sure exactly why this particular person was charged for leading prayers, the reports have been quite vague about the exact reasons but they might be linked to what you suggested, i.e. problems between different governments or maybe a different reason that is yet to become clear…
I’ll try to keep on top of any developments.