Saudi offers militants amnesty

2004-06-23 20:36

Riyadh - Saudi Arabia's King Fahd on Wednesday offered an amnesty to terror suspects who turn themselves in within a month, saying those who did so would be "secure" while those who did not would be subjected to a fierce crackdown.

"All those affiliated to this group which wronged itself and who were not captured ... have a chance to return to God and engage in soul-searching," he said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Crown Prince and de facto ruler Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on state television.

"Those who turn themselves in of their own will within a month of this speech will be secure in the security of God as far as they are concerned, and will be treated according to God's law pertaining to the rights of others."

This suggested the state would drop all charges against those who surrender but that they will still have to obtain a pardon from people harmed by their acts.

"We announce for the last time that we open the door of pardon, return to right and applying the righteous rule of sharaa (Islamic law) to anyone who deviated from the right path and committed a crime in the name of religion," the Saudi monarch said.

"Everyone knows that we are not saying this out of weakness, but as an option to those, and so that we will be excused as government and people (if we crack down) since we opened the door of return (to the fold) and security.

"The rational who will take up (the offer) will be secure. As for those who spurn it, by God, our forbearance will not prevent us from striking with the full force we draw from our reliance on God."

The speech came five days after security forces shot dead the head of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia and three associates who beheaded an American hostage in the latest of a spate of attacks on Westerners in the kingdom.

- AFP