How terrorists laid siege on the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia in 1979

Saudi Arabia is taken into account the epicentre of the Muslim world. Infamous for its strict enforcement of the Sharia regulation, gender segregation and restrictions on girls, the Arabian nation stays a mannequin of inspiration for Islamic hardliners throughout the globe. As such, even slight amendments to the regressive practices and child steps in direction of modernity draw the wrath of Islamists.
It thus got here as no shock when Islamist outfit Raza Academy ran a social media marketing campaign, urging Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to revoke the choice of opening cinema halls within the metropolis of Medina. The Islamist outfit additionally held a protest march exterior Minara Masjid in Mumbai. The protestors have been heard elevating slogans of “Saudi Hukumat Murdabad” and holding placards that learn, “Saudi Government Must Stop Desecration of The Holy City of Madina Munawwarah.”
Today Raza Academy stage an indication in opposition to Saudi authorities for opening cinema halls in Madina Munawwara#BanCinemaInMadinaShareef#DisgraceOnYouSaudiGovt@KingSalman@KSAembassyIND pic.twitter.com/krKNfSYe39— Raza Academy (@razaacademyho) September 23, 2021
Unlike his predecessors, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shortly realised the necessity of the nation to cut back dependency on oil and diversify it to different sectors resembling well being, schooling, recreation and tourism. In an interview with CBS News, he stated, “(Before 1979) We were living a normal life like the rest of the Gulf countries, women were driving cars, there were movie theatres in Saudi Arabia.”
This begs the query: What occurred in 1979 that took Saudi Arabia afar from modernity and into the depths of desert tribalism (one thing that evokes Islamic fundamentalists throughout the globe thus far)? The reply lies within the Grand Mosque seizure of November 20, 1979. It stays the deadliest terror assault confronted by the Saudi Kingdom thus far. A big group of radical Islamists, led by a 40-year-old preacher Juhayman al-Otaybi laid siege on one of many holiest websites of the Islamic world – the Masjid Al-Haram.
The motives behind the fear assault
Despite being poorly educated, coupled with a scarcity of proficiency in classical Arabic, Otaybi had a charismatic impact on his followers. “He was true to his mission, and he gave his whole life to Allah, day and night,” recounted a non secular pupil Mutwali Saleh. Juhayman al-Otaybi based an affiliation named the ‘al-Jamaa al-Salafiya al-Muhtasiba (JSM)’, which condemned the growing Westernisation of Saudi Arabia.
Under the management of the Saudi royal household (House of Saud) and the growing oil exports, the Kingdom had change into affluent. JSM members, who lived a lifetime of austerity, dubbed the elevated consumerism of Saudi Arabians as ‘degeneration of social and religious values.’ Otaybi was of the idea that the Saudi tradition had change into corrupt, and ostentatious below the Saudi royal household. He vowed to revive the true legacy of Islam within the Kingdom. He declared a soft-spoken Islamic preacher (later turned brother-in-law) Abdullah al-Qahtan because the ‘Mahdi’ (redeemer of Islam).
The arrested gunmen (Image Credit: AFP)
In Islamic tradition, a Mahdi is one who seems earlier than Judgment day to determine the Kingdom of Allah. Otaybi had navy coaching throughout his stint with the Saudi National Guard. His plan was to put siege on the holiest web site within the Islamic world and his navy expertise proved helpful. November 20, 1979, was chosen for the execution of his plans because it marked the primary day of the 12 months 1400, in line with the Islamic calendar. As per Muslim traditions, an individual known as ‘Mujaddid’ seems on the flip of every century to revive Islam and restore it to its pristine glory.
The Seizure of the Masjd al-Haram and resistance by Saudi Arabia forces
On the fateful day of November 20 that 12 months, about 50000 Muslims from throughout the globe had gathered within the courtyard close to Kaaba for the daybreak prayers. The prayers have been being led by the Sheikh Mohammed al-Subayil, the then imam of the Masjid al-Haram. Juhayman al-Otaybi and his 200 odd followers have been among the many gathering. As the prayers ended, the Islamists shortly took management of the microphone and pushed al-Subayil apart.
From the closed coffins stored within the centre of the yard, the extremists took out handguns and rifles. They have been shortly distributed amongst his followers. “Fellow Muslims, we announce today the coming of the Mahdi… who shall reign with justice and fairness on Earth after it has been filled with injustice and oppression,” one among Otaybi’s followers learn out a ready speech. Otaybi directed his males to close the doorways of the mosque and take up sniper positions within the minarets.
”Attention brothers! Ahmad al-Lehebi, go up on the roof. If you see somebody resisting on the gates, shoot them!” he directed. The worshippers have been surprised on the sight of armed gunmen within the mosque. Within a span of an hour, Juhayman al-Otaybi took full management of the Grand Mosque. Given the absence of Crown Prince Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and National Guard head Prince Abdullah who have been on a go to to Tunisia and Morocco respectively, King Khalid and Defence Minister Prince Sultan initiated the counter-response.
First, the Saudi police despatched patrol automobiles to the mosque to know the gravity of the scenario. On being bombarded with bullets, the Saudi National Guard was referred to as in to take again management of the mosque. It grew to become clear to the Saudi authorities that the seizure of the Grand Mosque was well-planned. In response, particular troops, paratroopers and armoured autos have been dispatched to free the hostages. The Saudi navy launched frontal assault however Otaybi and his males continued to place up resistance.
Saudi forces reply to the offensive carried out by the Islamists, picture by way of BBC/Alamy
A heavy cloud of smoke was generated by the Islamists by setting carpet and rubber tires on hearth. They took refuge behind columns and infrequently got here out to ambush the Saudi forces. Major Mohammad al-Nufai recounted, “This was a man-to-man confrontation, within a limited space. A combat situation with bullets whizzing by, left and right – it’s something unbelievable.” The mosque had was a ‘killing zone.’ The Mahdi aka Abdullah al-Qahtan believed that he was invincible. His overconfidence led to his eventual doom when he was killed within the gunfire.
To preserve the morale of his males excessive, Juhayman al-Otaybi misled them into believing that the Mahdi was alive. “The smells surrounded us from the dead or the injuries that had rotted. In the beginning, water was available, but later on they started to ration supplies. Then the dates ran out so they started eating balls of raw dough… It was a terrifying atmosphere. It was like you were in a horror movie,” a witness recounted. It was lastly on the sixth day that the Saudi forces gained management of the mosque’s courtyard.
The French intervention and execution of the Islamists
The Islamists took shelter into the cells beneath the mosque and it was changing into tough to take away Otaybi and his males from the Grand Mosque. King Khalid of Saudi Arabia reached out to French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. After realising that the homegrown battle within the Kingdom might impression oil exports on the planet, Estaing dispatched three advisers from France’s counter-terrorism unit (GIGN) to Saudi Arabia.
“Our ambassador told me that it was obvious the Saudi forces were very disorganised and didn’t know how to react. It seemed to me to be dangerous, because of the weakness of the system, its unpreparedness and the repercussions this could have on the global oil market,” the French President advised the BBC. The French navy advisers took shelter at a lodge in Taif city. They beneficial the usage of fuel canisters to make air unbreathable in basements, the place Otaybi and his males have been hiding.
“Holes were dug every 50m in order to reach the basement. Gas was injected through these holes. The gas was dispersed with the help of grenade explosions into every corner where the rebels were hiding,” knowledgeable French Capt Paul Barril, who headed the mission.” Otaybi and his males quickly ran out of meals and ammunition. With the fixed dispatch of smoke bombs, the Islamist, who got down to free Saudi Arabia of ethical corruptness, surrendered with 63 different males.
Pittsburg Post- Gazette newspaper report concerning the execution of the Islamic terrorists
The seizure got here to an finish on December 4, 1979. 117 of Otaybi’s males have been killed within the gunfight whereas 63 have been executed by the Saudi authorities. Juhayman al-Otaybi was one of many first Islamists to be publicly beheaded. Reportedly, the beheading was carried out in 8 Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, Buraidah, Dammam, Abha, Ha’il and Tabuk.
Cultural implications on Saudi Arabia after the Grand Mosque Seizure
One of the direct penalties of the fear assault was the large leap of the Kingdom in direction of non secular dogmatism and archaic mindset. Having absolutely realised the potential of future assaults in opposition to the monarchy, King Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud took refuge of Islamism. After the Grand Mosque seizure of 1979, Saudi Arabia rebranded itself because the Guardian of Islam and defenders of Faith. King Khalid took measures to take heed to the grievances of the clerics.
Reportedly, the Kingdom renewed ties with Wahabi clerics and appointed them to essential positions in schooling, judiciary and non secular steering. The House of Saud additionally made efforts to globally propagate the tenets of Wahabism and gave into to the calls for of the Ulemas in opposition to growing modernisation of the Kingdom. In that means, King Khalid was capable of nullify home criticism of the monarchy.
Prior to the seizure, there have been talks about growing girls’s freedom, proper to take part in public life, and schooling. All of that ended with the strict adherence to seventh century Sharia regulation. In hindsight, Juhayman al-Otaybi was profitable in making the Kingdom undertake his regressive concepts about life. The Islamists had got down to restore the pristine purity of Islam, one thing which was made doable by banning public concert events, film theatres, imposing strict gown codes on girls.
According to Nasser al-Huzaimi, all measures in direction of reaching modernisation got here to a halt after the stop. He recounted, “Let me give you a simple example. One of the things he demanded from the Saudi government was the removal of female presenters from TV. After the Haram incident, no female presenter appeared on TV again.” The Grand Mosque seizure additionally impressed the likes of slain Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden, who went on to execute the 9/11 assaults in 2001.