When the Grand Mosque was occupied by a group of Salafi militants
One of the most dramatic events in the history of Saudi Arabia - much less expressed to the present generation - is when the Salafi militant group managed to occupy the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the holiest place for Muslims.
Saudi Arabian security forces finally recovered after two weeks of struggle that killed hundreds of people.
That morning, November 20, 1979, was the day that symbolized a new century of 1400 in the Islamic calendar.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims from all corners of the world gathered in the Grand Mosque awaiting Fajr prayer.
The famous holy mosque was built around the Kaaba which is considered by Muslims as the 'House of God' and becomes the direction for all Muslims when performing the prayers wherever they are.
As morning prayers approached the end, some 200 worshipers dressed in white robes suddenly took out automatic rifles they smuggled. Some of the armed pilgrims took up positions around the imam who leads the prayer on Tuesday morning.
As soon as the prayers were over, they took over the microphone and delivered a surprising statement.
"We are delivering today the coming of Mahdi, who will bring justice and righteousness on earth, which is full of injustice and oppression."
Based on Islamic texts, the Mahdi is the 'Redeemer of Islam' who will cleanse the world from evil and rule in the days leading up to the end of the world. For the militant group of Salafis who occupied the Grand Mosque, their action is the beginning of the Day of Resurrection.
One of the pilgrims who followed the fateful morning prayer was a student who had just completed his hajj service.
"We were very surprised because once the prayers were over, some people took over the microphone and made the announcement at the Grand Mosque saying they had come,"
"People are happy because the savior has arrived, people are happy and squeal Allahu Akbar," he recalled.
The armed pilgrims who occupied the Grand Mosque are Salafis, an ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim group led by a young cleric from Bedouin Arab tribe Juhayman al-Otaybi.
Through loudspeakers at the Grand Mosque, they declared that Imam Mahdi was there, among them.
A man then comes forward, Mohammed Abdullah al-Qahtani, who is al-Otaybi's brother-in-law. He declared himself to be the Mahdi, the savior.
"Then Juhayman came and declared loyalty to Imam Mahdi, convincing people so they expressed loyalty to the Mahdi," recalled the young student.
Abdulmanan Sultan was another student who then sneaked into the mosque to see what really happened.
"People are very surprised to see weapons in the Grand Mosque, which is unusual for them, no doubt it frightens them, something that is very inappropriate," he said.
Juhayman al-Otaybi ordered his armed men to close the Haram Mosque and place snipers in the minarets of the mosque, ready to wage war against the enemies of the Mahdi.
For them the government of Saudi Arabia is considered immoral, corrupt and oriented to the West.
As police approached the mosque to find out what was happening inside, the militants opened fire and casualties fell.
Mark Hambley, who was a political officer at the United States for Saudi Arabia, remembers the Saudi authorities applying the 'black out' policy of news or banning the news of the incident.
Not many know who actually occupied the Grand Mosque and what is the reason.
But he can get information from a US helicopter pilot who flew over Mecca with the local security apparatus.
"The first is a naive but courageous effort from a large number of national guards and police around, and many are shot dead," Hambley recalled.
The Arab Suaudi government deployed thousands of troops and special forces to Mecca to take over the mosque. They carry armored vehicles while fighter planes are deployed.
The king's family requested the consent of the religious leaders to use force or armed force inside the mosque and in the coming days the battle escalated with the government troops launching the attack after attack.
Some of the mosques were damaged and the number of victims reached hundreds of lives.
Abdulmanan Sultan - an eyebrow who had sneaked into the mosque - told the BBC that shots and explosions were heard almost every hour until dawn.
"I saw artillery fired directly at minarets (minarets) and I also saw helicopters wandering around incessantly," he said, then hiding behind Kaaba.
After a few days of fighting, Saudi Arabia's special forces finally succeeded in entering the mosque complex and mastering the first floor terrace.
The militants retreated into the labyrinth of corridors inside the mosque but they still fought night and day.
But government troop attacks continue to be intensified and firing shots allow everyone to take shelter into the mosque's basement.
At that time the rumor broke that Mohammed Abdullah al-Qahtani-who claimed to be a Mahdi-was seriously injured, which would not have been possible if he had indeed been the Mahdi.
A surviving eyewitness recalled the event to the BBC.
"People started shouting 'Mahdi's injury, Mahdi was injured' Some people tried to approach him trying to save him but a huge blaze prevents them A group of men came to Juhayman al-Otaybi to say that Mahdi was injured, but he said do not believe them. defector. "
To end the occupation of the Grand Mosque, Saudi Arabian security forces requested assistance from French commandos, who were sent to Saudi Arabia on a secret mission.
They not only carry equipment but also pump CS gas into the labyrinth in the basement of the mosque.
The gas 'hit' everyone in the area and many died even though some survived.
The militants who could withstand the gas attack finally surrendered, two weeks after being seized, the Grand Mosque was re-released on December 4th.
A total of 63 people were executed, including Juhayman al-Otaybi, while others were sentenced to imprisonment. The authorities also spread photographs of the body of the 'Mahdi' or Mohammed Abdullah al-Qahtani.
The occupation of the holy mosque and its relief efforts left hundreds dead while 1,000 suffered more injuries.
Most parts of the mosque were badly damaged but the Kaaba was not touched by the great fighting.
Saudi Arabian security forces finally recovered after two weeks of struggle that killed hundreds of people.
That morning, November 20, 1979, was the day that symbolized a new century of 1400 in the Islamic calendar.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims from all corners of the world gathered in the Grand Mosque awaiting Fajr prayer.
The famous holy mosque was built around the Kaaba which is considered by Muslims as the 'House of God' and becomes the direction for all Muslims when performing the prayers wherever they are.
As morning prayers approached the end, some 200 worshipers dressed in white robes suddenly took out automatic rifles they smuggled. Some of the armed pilgrims took up positions around the imam who leads the prayer on Tuesday morning.
As soon as the prayers were over, they took over the microphone and delivered a surprising statement.
"We are delivering today the coming of Mahdi, who will bring justice and righteousness on earth, which is full of injustice and oppression."
Based on Islamic texts, the Mahdi is the 'Redeemer of Islam' who will cleanse the world from evil and rule in the days leading up to the end of the world. For the militant group of Salafis who occupied the Grand Mosque, their action is the beginning of the Day of Resurrection.
One of the pilgrims who followed the fateful morning prayer was a student who had just completed his hajj service.
"We were very surprised because once the prayers were over, some people took over the microphone and made the announcement at the Grand Mosque saying they had come,"
"People are happy because the savior has arrived, people are happy and squeal Allahu Akbar," he recalled.
The armed pilgrims who occupied the Grand Mosque are Salafis, an ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim group led by a young cleric from Bedouin Arab tribe Juhayman al-Otaybi.
Through loudspeakers at the Grand Mosque, they declared that Imam Mahdi was there, among them.
A man then comes forward, Mohammed Abdullah al-Qahtani, who is al-Otaybi's brother-in-law. He declared himself to be the Mahdi, the savior.
"Then Juhayman came and declared loyalty to Imam Mahdi, convincing people so they expressed loyalty to the Mahdi," recalled the young student.
Abdulmanan Sultan was another student who then sneaked into the mosque to see what really happened.
"People are very surprised to see weapons in the Grand Mosque, which is unusual for them, no doubt it frightens them, something that is very inappropriate," he said.
Juhayman al-Otaybi ordered his armed men to close the Haram Mosque and place snipers in the minarets of the mosque, ready to wage war against the enemies of the Mahdi.
For them the government of Saudi Arabia is considered immoral, corrupt and oriented to the West.
As police approached the mosque to find out what was happening inside, the militants opened fire and casualties fell.
Mark Hambley, who was a political officer at the United States for Saudi Arabia, remembers the Saudi authorities applying the 'black out' policy of news or banning the news of the incident.
Not many know who actually occupied the Grand Mosque and what is the reason.
But he can get information from a US helicopter pilot who flew over Mecca with the local security apparatus.
"The first is a naive but courageous effort from a large number of national guards and police around, and many are shot dead," Hambley recalled.
The Arab Suaudi government deployed thousands of troops and special forces to Mecca to take over the mosque. They carry armored vehicles while fighter planes are deployed.
The king's family requested the consent of the religious leaders to use force or armed force inside the mosque and in the coming days the battle escalated with the government troops launching the attack after attack.
Some of the mosques were damaged and the number of victims reached hundreds of lives.
Abdulmanan Sultan - an eyebrow who had sneaked into the mosque - told the BBC that shots and explosions were heard almost every hour until dawn.
"I saw artillery fired directly at minarets (minarets) and I also saw helicopters wandering around incessantly," he said, then hiding behind Kaaba.
After a few days of fighting, Saudi Arabia's special forces finally succeeded in entering the mosque complex and mastering the first floor terrace.
The militants retreated into the labyrinth of corridors inside the mosque but they still fought night and day.
But government troop attacks continue to be intensified and firing shots allow everyone to take shelter into the mosque's basement.
At that time the rumor broke that Mohammed Abdullah al-Qahtani-who claimed to be a Mahdi-was seriously injured, which would not have been possible if he had indeed been the Mahdi.
A surviving eyewitness recalled the event to the BBC.
"People started shouting 'Mahdi's injury, Mahdi was injured' Some people tried to approach him trying to save him but a huge blaze prevents them A group of men came to Juhayman al-Otaybi to say that Mahdi was injured, but he said do not believe them. defector. "
To end the occupation of the Grand Mosque, Saudi Arabian security forces requested assistance from French commandos, who were sent to Saudi Arabia on a secret mission.
They not only carry equipment but also pump CS gas into the labyrinth in the basement of the mosque.
The gas 'hit' everyone in the area and many died even though some survived.
The militants who could withstand the gas attack finally surrendered, two weeks after being seized, the Grand Mosque was re-released on December 4th.
A total of 63 people were executed, including Juhayman al-Otaybi, while others were sentenced to imprisonment. The authorities also spread photographs of the body of the 'Mahdi' or Mohammed Abdullah al-Qahtani.
The occupation of the holy mosque and its relief efforts left hundreds dead while 1,000 suffered more injuries.
Most parts of the mosque were badly damaged but the Kaaba was not touched by the great fighting.
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