Accused Bahraini Terrorist Last Seen In Saudi Jail, Missing, Possibly Dead

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:04:06 +0000
Sandeep Singh Grewal - AHN Middle East Correspondent

Manama, Bahrain (AHN) The elder brother of the last Bahraini detainee to return from Guantanamo Bay,apprehended by Saudi Arabia in 2003 on terrorism charges, is missing and his family is afraid he could be dead.

According to his family, Abdulrahim al-Murbati was arrested on terror-related charges and is missing from Al Hair prison in Riyadh.

The suspect is the older brother of Isa al-Murbati, the last Bahraini detainee to return from Guantanamo Bay. The family met Abdulrahim at the Riyadh prison in June and said he was in good condition.

The missing man's brother, Usman Murbati told AHN, "We were supposed to meet him last week in Al-Hair. Then we were informed that he was not there. He has a wife and children and his disappearance scares us."

"We were informed by top officials that if we continue visiting my brother they would transfer him to Al Aseer jail. It takes us four hours to reach Riyadh from Bahrain. If they shift him to Aseer, we would have to travel for a day," Usman said.

Rumour mills were working overtime Monday with conjecture that Abdulrahim was transferred from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. Bahrain is centrally located with access to Saudi Arabia by driving 15 miles across the King Fahad Causeway.

"We heard that an inmate with similar facial features like my brother was shifted to Bahrain. But there is no news about his whereabouts. No one knows whether he is in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, "Usman said. There has been no official announcement or confirmation on this issue by Bahrain authorities.

The National Justice Movement (NJM), a Jihadist Salafist movement in the country which is handling the case has urged concerned government bodies to track the Bahraini.

Lawyer and NJM Chief Abdulla Hashim told AHN, "We urge the Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow up the case to the highest level. There is no information of any charges pressed against my client. There was no legal procedure followed after his arrests." NJM recently sent a letter to the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud telling him about the death of Abdulrahim's mother in June and appealed for a royal amnesty.

MP Shaikh Mohammed Khalid from Al Menbar ( Muslim Brotherhood) bloc also sent a letter to the Saudi King for a royal amnesty for Abdulrahim. The lawmaker had also reportedly criticised reports published in Saudi daily Al Riyadh claiming Abdulrahim was accused of endorsing the use of bombs to target religious leaders He was also accused of recruiting youngsters in Baha, Tayif and Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

At present there are also eight Bahraini teachers detained in Saudi jails. They were arrested in February after entering a restricted area. According to their families, Saudi authorities suspect the eight men have links with Hizbullah.

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