Abdulateef Al-Mulhim

By : Abdulateef Al-Mulhim

This past week witnessed major developments at the regional level with far-reaching global effects. After years of tolerating Iranian misconduct and meddling in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia finally severed ties with it. Storming of Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran proved to be the last nail in the coffin prompting the Kingdom to finally call it quits.

Addressing a news conference, Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir gave Iran’s diplomatic mission 48 hours to leave the Kingdom. These events followed the execution of Nimr Al-Nimr along with 46 other terrorists. All those executed were put on trial and were found guilty of various serious crimes including promoting terrorist activities in the Kingdom. The targets of their nefarious activities were not only Saudis but also people of other nationalities. Execution of terrorists or criminals is an internal Saudi matter and Iranian reaction to it — media campaign against the Kingdom and attack on Saudi diplomatic mission — is beyond comprehension.

One thing obvious from the recent Iranian posture in the region and tactics is that it wants to divide the region along sectarian lines and to stoke sectarian tensions in the Arab world to establish its hegemony in the region.

Before we go further, let us talk about Shiites in Saudi Arabia. There are many things, Iran and many people in the West don’t know about Saudi Shiites. I live in the eastern part of the Kingdom, where the Saudi Shiites are mainly concentrated. They have been living in this part of the Arabian Peninsula for centuries. They have always lived liked any other member of the Saudi society. Actually, it was only after the 1979 revolution in Iran that the Sunni-Shiite issue became more pronounced in the entire Muslim world.

During my early years in school, I — like many of my other classmates — was very close to students belonging to the Shiite sect. Playing and studying together was a matter of routine for us. During our interactions, the issue of sect was never discussed. As a matter of fact, we only got to know about other people’s sectarian views on the day of Ashura, which is the 10th day of the month of Muharram.

Sunnis in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere observe fast on this day and Shiites consider it a day of sorrow due to the tragic events that took place in Karbala around 1,400 years ago.

For the information of the readers, the relations between Sunnis and Shiites in the Kingdom are cordial and strong and our Shiite population enjoys equal rights like their Sunni counterparts. Many of my Shiite friends and former classmates held top government positions. Some of them went on to become members of the Shoura Council and many of them hold key positions in the municipalities, military. In short, Saudi Shiites can be found working for the Kingdom’s progress in the public and private sectors.

The Kingdom grants foreign scholarships to male and female students without any discrimination. To be honest, men and women from the eastern parts of the Kingdom, who happen to be Shiites, are very hardworking, loyal and dedicated people. I have worked with them in the past in the military and presently I work with them in the private sector. In other words, they are well-respected and productive members of our society. But, what brought the issue of Saudi Shiites to the fore?

After the Iranian revolution, very few Saudi Shiites went to Iran for ideological reasons. Many of them came back to the Kingdom after a brief stay because of their disappointment in the revolution especially when many of them were not happy with Iran’s intentions and provocative approach in order to export the Iranian revolution to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. However, few stayed behind and one of them was Nimr Al-Nimr. From there he went to Syria and later returned to Saudi Arabia. He was arrested and questioned more than once and his arrests were announced to the public. His inciting speeches and acts were a threat to the Kingdom’s security. Many of his young followers resorted to violence, which resulted in the death of some security personal. He was a wanted man and he resorted to the use of force against the Saudi police, when the security officials wanted to arrest him. Ironically, at the time when he was giving fiery speeches denouncing the Saudi government and threatening the government with more violence, his wife got very ill. And she was sent to the best American hospitals for medical treatment. Later on she died in the hospital due to her illness. His wife used to work for the Saudi Ministry of Interior (Passport Department). And more ironic is the fact that when Al-Nimr was busy spreading hatred against the Kingdom, various members of his family were studying in the United States on full scholarships granted by the Saudi government that covered, full college tuition, monthly stipend for the student and his or her spouse, health insurance, plane tickets and baby-sitting expenses.

What did Saudi Arabia get in return from Al-Nimr? He was inciting people against the Kingdom; he was trying to stoke sectarian feelings and promoting violence through brainwashed young men who attacked police pickets and other vital installations. He was loyal to Iran and he was simply taking orders from Tehran to help incite violence not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Iran is using few of the Saudi Shiites to disturb the peace in the Kingdom. All the Saudi Shiites are aware of this conspiracy. Saudi Shiites are known for their unwavering loyalty to their country and they will continue to be part of the Saudi society. Respect and trust among all Saudis will prevail. Saudis, Sunnis and Shiites, will stand together against any domestic or foreign enemy.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in the Column section are their own and do not reflect RiyadhVision’s point-of-view.

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