Islamic terrorists – some of whom fought and killed British soldiers in
Afghanistan - caught in Saudi Arabia are to receive 'luxury
rehabilitation'.
The conservative oil rich state is hoping to steer jailed al-Qaeda
militants away from religious extremism with counselling, spa treatments
and exercise at a luxury rehabilitation centre in Riyadh, news agencies
there are reporting.
The luxury facilities, which the country has spared no expense on
providing, include Olympic-size indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a gym and
a television hall. More pictures after the cut....
Media representatives are given a tour of a new centre for the
rehabilitation of suspected 'terrorists' and potential al-Qaeda recruits
in Riyadh
The new centre, which is built on 76 thousand square metres and hosts
suspects from 41 different nationalities has similar facilities to a
recreational resort
The new facility is to offer prisoners a 'taste of luxury as an incentive to moderate their beliefs'
For those who have shown signs of good behaviour, two day breaks may be
granted for those who wish proximity with their wives, in special
'suites' which are part of the complex.
The program will accommodate around 3,000 prisoners in 5 centres in the
kingdom but it is the new facility in Riyadh, however, which is to offer
prisoners a 'taste of luxury as an incentive to moderate their
beliefs'.
All the centres bear the name of the current interior minister, who lead
the government’s crackdown on Al-Qaeda within Saudi Arabia following
deadly attacks by the group between 2003 and 2006 in which more than 150
Saudis and foreigners were killed.
During the crackdown, many militants fled south into Yemen’s lawless
southern and south eastern regions where the network formed 'Al-Qaeda in
the Arabian Peninsula' in January 2009 -- classified by the United
States as the jihadists’ deadliest branch.
Luxury facility covers an area equivalent to around 10 football pitches
and is designed to accommodate 228 prisoners from the 'deviant group'
The prisoners will attend seminars on religious affairs, aimed at
teaching them the errors of their ways through their misguided thoughts
of jihad
Prisoners will have access to special suites where they can spend time with visiting family members
The Riyadh luxury facility covers over area equivalent to around 10
football pitches and is designed to accommodate 228 prisoners from the
'deviant group,' the term used by Saudi authorities to refer to
Al-Qaeda.
Each of the 12 buildings at the flagship facility will host 19
prisoners, who will have access to special suites where they can spend
time with visiting family members.
During the day, the prisoners will attend seminars on religious affairs,
aimed at teaching them the errors of their ways through their misguided
thoughts of jihad.
'In order to fight terrorism, we must give them an intellectual and
psychological balance... through dialogue and persuasion'” said the
director of the rehabilitation centres, Said al-Bishi.
He said a total of 2,336 Al-Qaeda prisoners have now been through Saudi rehabilitation schemes.
But not all Al Quada inmates who go through the program become 'converted' to their rehabilitation.
In fact, the director of the centres admits in an interview with
journalists that around 10 percent of those who go through the program
go back to their terrorist cells. Moreover, there have been some high
profile individuals who went through it before leaving and returning to
even greater notoriety in Al Quada in that region.
Furthermore, critics in the region have argued that the religious
instruction given to inmates is not moderate enough and is too close to
many of the jihadists’ interpretation of the Koran and too close to Al
Qaeda's own views.
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