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Saudi tribunals convict 330 of al-Qaeda links
SPECIAL security courts in Saudi Arabia have convicted a number of militants of plotting attacks inside the country with al-Qaeda, the state news agency SPA has reported.The militants were convicted today on charges of conspiring with al-Qaeda, plotting to disrupt national security and financing terrorism, the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution said. Altogether 330 people were convicted in the secret security tribunals, with one sentenced to death, according to Al-Arabiya television which has close links to the Saudi Government. The Bureau of Investigation gave no details on any individuals, but they are believed to be among 991 suspected militants arrested during an al-Qaeda campaign of attacks and assassinations of both Saudis and foreigners around the country between 2003 and 2006. Well over 100 people were killed in the attacks before they were halted by an intense Saudi crackdown. The trials of the militants are believed to have begun in early 2009 but were never officially confirmed. Human rights activists have criticised them for being held in secret based on poorly defined charges, and said the suspects were denied fundamental rights including legal help in their defence. However, last month Bandar al-Aiban, president of the official Saudi Human Rights Commission, said his group was monitoring the trials and that the defendants had received access to legal representation. Posted by: tipper 2009-07-08 |
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