Saudi Arabia holds cleric on Shiite book delivery charges

By: Abdulali

AHSA, Saudi Arabia: Saudi authorities in Al-Ahsa have arrested a Shiite cleric Samaha Ash-Sheikh Hasan ben Al-Mulla Ahmed Aal-i-Zayed, sources said on Monday.

The sources did not note reasons of Ash-Sheikh Hasan’s arrest but one of his colleagues said that Ash-Sheikh Hasan was seized on accusation of distribution of a religious book that was according to Mazheb-i-Haqqah, the Shiite doctrine.

It is worth noting that the Saudi ministry of information restricts possession of Shiite book or any other book that is not in accordance with Salafy thought rather its mere entrance to the kingdom is a punishable crime.

Sources said 26-year-old Ash-Sheikh Hasan, a Riyadh University graduate, was arrested on Sunday, 13 June, 2004, Rabi Ath-Thani 25, after the authorities called him from his office to one of the government schools in Ahsa.

Ash-Sheikh Hasan, a resident of Al-Qatif city, obtained religious education after completion of his graduation and Samaha Ash-Sheikh Namr Baqer An-Namr caused him to wear amamah, or religious turban, four months ago.

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