Saudi Arabia Jails 13 Men for Aiding Overseas Fighters

Local Editor

A Saudi Arabian court jailed 13 men to sentences ranging from one to 10 years on Sunday for aiding and financing militants fighting abroad, conspiring inside Saudi Arabia, and harboring wanted suspects, the SPA state news agency reported on Monday.

Further charges for which the 13 men were convicted include: money laundering, bribery, and possession of illegal weapons.
They were all given travel bans to come into force after their sentences finish. Another seven men were acquitted, SPA reported.

In February, King Abdullah issued a royal decree imposing prison terms of three to 20 years on any Saudi who travels overseas to fight, and of five to 30 years on anyone who gives moral or material support to groups which the government considers as extremist groups.

The move reflected the government's fears that the crisis in Syria, where many armed groups fighting against the government are militants, will inspire radicalism inside the kingdom.

In recent months, Saudi courts have sentenced hundreds of convicted militants to prison terms, as they work to overcome a long buildup of cases related to a militant campaign last decade that killed hundreds.

The security forces detained thousands of people after the bombings and shootings started in 2003 who were accused of security offences, including joining militant groups and fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Moreover, Saudi and international human rights groups have accused the government of using its crackdown on militants to detain peaceful protesters in the kingdom.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team