Iranian Alert -- November 30, 2003 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD

The US media almost entirely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” But most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East.

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. Starting June 10th of this year, Iranians have begun taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy. Many even want the US to over throw their government.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

Iran poses test for newfound Western unity

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 30, 2003

Like Iran, the United States and Europe face a test in the wake of a nuclear compromise reached in Vienna this week. If Teheran does not abide by commitments to eschew atomic weapons, will the West follow through with continued pressure, even sanctions?

Like Iran, the United States and Europe face a test in the wake of a nuclear compromise reached in Vienna this week.

If Teheran does not abide by commitments to eschew atomic weapons, will the West follow through with continued pressure, even sanctions?

Some doubt it.

Recent revelations about Iran's 18-year nuclear programme cover-up have heightened concerns about the Islamic republic's atomic ambitions. In that sense, there is growing consensus.

After bitter debates over invading Iraq that pitted the United States against France and Germany, Thursday's resolution on Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, reflected a new unity.

The IAEA's compromise between Europeans and a more hard-line United States condemned Teheran for covering up sensitive atomic research and warned that any future breach of non-proliferation obligations will not be tolerated.

Still, there remain competing visions - within the Bush administration, as well as between it and US allies - over how to balance carrots and sticks in dealing with oil-rich Iran, one of the most important countries in the Middle East.

"My concern is that the Europeans don't have a stomach for dealing with Iran on a very strong basis at this point," said Peter Brookes, a former Pentagon official with the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Robert Einhorn, a leading non-proliferation specialist, said the important thing is "whether the Europeans are prepared to join with the United States in confronting Iran with a stark choice, between being a pariah with nuclear weapons and a law-abiding international citizen."

"If the Iranians continue to behave poorly, then the Europeans have to join with us in sending a clear message that this is unacceptable, and if Iran wants better relations with the rest of the world, it's got to pull the plug definitely on its nuclear weapons programme. I don't believe Iran has yet done that," added Einhorn, a former senior State Department official who is now senior adviser at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

The IAEA stopped short of reporting Iran to the UN Security Council - which could have imposed sanctions - as the United States demanded over French, British and German objections.

But the IAEA warned that in the event of future breaches, it would meet immediately to consider "all options," including Security Council action.

Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty years ago and as such vowed to forgo nuclear weapons.

But Washington believes it has used an energy programme to hide nuclear arms development, including uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing. Teheran denies that allegation.

US officials, key Europeans and many analysts portrayed the IAEA outcome as a reasonable compromise.

It puts pressure on Teheran to co-operate with the international community while seeking a swift international response if more Iranian violations are uncovered, they said.

But Henry Sokolski of the Non-proliferation Education Centre said the "jury is still out" on what the IAEA resolution means and how it will work.

He fears the trigger in the agreement requiring the IAEA to consider "all options" in the event of future Iranian non-proliferation violations will unravel. As with Iraq and its alleged weapons of mass destruction, there could be "endless debate about what constitutes actionable concerns," he said.

It may not take long to reach a new crisis point. New information, including evidence of new facilities, is expected to turn up in the next few months showing Iran is in violation of its nuclear commitments, a US official said.

If that happens, France, Britain and Germany - who offered Teheran nuclear technology in return for compliance - will be so embarrassed they will join the United States in bringing the issue to the Security Council, some experts argue.

But US officials said they do not know for sure whether the Europeans, who have favoured engagement with Iran over confrontation, would support UN sanctions.

Already there is a dispute over what activities Iran told the Europeans it would suspend, one US official said.

Some US officials and analysts, while endorsing the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear arms, say a broader, more nuanced strategy is required because sanctions ensures confrontation, and makes an Iranian bomb more likely.

Washington's conventional wisdom has been that all Iranians are bent on ensuring the country has nuclear arms capability.

But Einhorn said revelations of Iran's nuclear activities and the IAEA condemnation has been a "rude awakening for some Iranians (who now believe) their interests are not well served by pursuing nuclear weapons."

An analyst close to the administration said the United States must "buy time" with Iran, hoping that if hardliners and moderates now leading the government cannot be persuaded to end the nuclear programme, a new younger generation, keen on ties with the West, eventually will.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200311/30/eng20031130_129351.shtml

IRAN TO BUILD SIX MORE NUCLEAR ELECTRICITY PLANTS

TEHRAN, 29 Nov.

Iran on Saturday announced its intention to build six more nuclear-powered electricity plants and at the same time expressed confidence that further inspections conducted by the atomic watchdog agency of its nuclear activities will attest to their strictly peaceful nature.

In a press conference in Tehran, Hojjatoleslam Hasan Rohani the influential Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) also challenged the United States to bring forth any secrets it claims it has about Tehran’s nuclear activities.

"An American official has recently said that they have new information about Iran’s nuclear weapons. We beg him them (the Americans) to reveal what they have", he told reporters, reiterating that all Iran’s nuclear programmes are for peaceful and civilian purposes.

"Our nuclear activity is categorically peaceful and will be such", said Mr. Rohani, who, as the main interlocutor in negotiations with both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Europeans, emerged as Iran’s nuclear trouble shooter in recent months.

It was Mr. Rohani who met with the foreign affairs ministers of Britain, France and Germany and announced Iran’s acceptance of the Additional Protocol to the Non Proliferation Treaty and the suspension of uranium enriching programmes, activities that have been hidden from inspections for 18 years.

"Americans will achieve nothing as it regards Iran’s nuclear activities; we are sure about ourselves and for this reason, we have no fear of inspections of our atomic projects by the IAEA inspectors in the future. In other words, Americans have failed in this regard", the cleric added, according to the official news agency IRNA.

The United States led the anti-Iran front during a recent meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, hoping Tehran is reported to the UN Security Council.

Washington, however, accepted a compromise resolution that warned the Islamic Republic it would face international sanctions if it fails to respect its engagements, but at the same time did not sent the Iranian case to the United States Security Council, as demanded by the United States.

Tehran welcomed the resolution, but regretted that no mention was made to its cooperation with the IAEA in recent months.

In a report submitted to the IAEA Board of Directors, UN inspectors faulted Iran for having concealed some key nuclear activities, like enriching uranium, but also said they had found no evidence pointing to Iran’s use of ongoing atomic projects for producing nuclear weapons, as alleged by Washington and Tel Aviv.

"Americans sought to score a point with a threat, but we chose the path of cooperation with the Europeans, who reciprocated it and the policy worked", Rohani said.

"America can also choose this path"’ he suggested.

The official welcomed further IAEA inspection which is expected to become more intrusive after Iran signs the Additional Protocol that would allow IAEA inspectors to go to Iran without prior warning and visit any site or project they wishes without any restrictions from the Iranian authorities.

According to Mr. Rohani, Iran would ratify the Protocol officially “in a near future and as soon as some formalities are performed”, referring to the ratification by the Majles of the agreement he signed with the French, British and German ministers on 21 October.

“We have no worry about continued inspections of the agency’s experts", Mr. Rohani, stressing that Iran would be committed to its undertakings with the Europe’s three Big in the one hand and the IAEA on the other.

"The wider inspections on Iran’s nuclear activities become, the more evident will become the fact that Iran has moved on the track for making peaceful use of the nuclear energy", he said.

The inspections, Rohani added, will also shed light on those issues for which Iran has been cited as having ridden roughshod in the past.

Reminding that Iran decided to voluntarily suspend its uranium enriching projects, Mr. Rohani called on the Americans to take example from the Europeans and stop spreading baseless news on Iran’s nuclear projects, including the Booshehr nuclear-powered electricity station that is under construction with assistance from Russia, a project the Americans and the Israeli say is a “covert” for military purposes.

ENDS IRAN NUCLEAR 291103

http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2003/Nov-2003/iran_nuclear_291103.htm

Rowhani: "Human Rights draft on Iran hasty

Sunday, November 30, 2003
©2003 IranMania.com

Tehran, Nov 30, (Compiled by IRIB & AFP) -- The Secretary of Iran's General of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said Canada was hasty in drafting a human rights resolution at the United Nations condemning Iran.

Speaking to reporters, Rowhani added that the resolution, which was itself a pressure instrument, was uncalled for.

"Judgements and evaluation of human rights issues should not only be subject to western interpretation and as such the process is a two way street."

The resolution -- which condemns abuses including torture, suppression of free speech and discrimination against women -- was approved by the UN's human rights committee in New York.

Prior to the resolution at the UN we had begun a sincere cooperation with human rights institutions and had extended invitations to their officials to visit Iran.

The UN human rights committee Friday approved a Canadian-drafted resolution condemning the rights situation in Iran, expressing concern over alleged torture, violent methods of punishment and discrimination against religious minorities.

Widespread support for the measure means its formal adoption by the UN General Assembly is all but guaranteed, so there is little chance Iran will escape damaging formal condemnation from the world body.

The resolution on rights comes at the worst possible time for Iran, as it battles to improve a tarnished image on the world stage and strengthen ties with the European Union.

As far as we are concerned dialogue is the most appropriate approach to this issue and the current approach is unsatisfactory, Rowhani added.

It is possible that Canada has broached the matter because of the of Zahra Kazemi.

Kazemi died in July after being arrested for taking pictures outside Tehran's Evin prison, but her controversial case was not mentioned specifically in the resolution.

Canada's deputy UN ambassador Gilbert Laurin denied the move was in retaliation for the death of Canadian-Iranian photographer Zahra Kazemi in custody in Tehran in July.

"It is an example of what is wrong with the human rights situation in Iran. Sadly, it is not the only case. There are too many others," Laurin said.

"The responsible institutions in Iran, including the judiciary are pursuing the issue until the perpetrators will be brought to justice," the secretary general of SNSC stated. "Internal debacles are also part of the problem fanning the flames of outside pressures."

On the issue of pilgrimage to Iraq and US accusations leveled at the Islamic Revolution Guards Corp (IRGC) he said "We recommend Iranian pilgrims not to go to holy cities in Iraq because of prevailing insecurity in that country."

The IRGC does not and will not have any activities in Iraq, Rowhani said adding security in Iraq is to Iran's benefit and any news regarding the involvement of Iranian state-organs in Iraq is totally "baseless."

Iran has offered Iraq a package of political and security assistance, after a landmark visit here by top members of the Iraqi Governing Council that also yielded a trade pact set to boost Iranian economic clout in its US-occupied neighbour.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami for the first time expressly recognised the US-backed interim Governing Council after meeting with Talabani. Previously, Iran has been content to officially consider the council a "step" toward putting power back in the hands of Iraqis and refused to recognise an authority installed by a foreign occupation.

Relations between Iran and Iraq, who fought a bloody eight-year war until 1988, have gradually improved since the US-led force ousted the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in April.

However relations between the coalition and Iran remain strained at best, amid a barrage of allegations from US officials that Iran is actively underming post-war security.

The BBC said on its website Talabani who heads the powerful Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) had told it Iran had agreed to help fight "terrorism" in Iraq, and had accepted that the current wave of attacks against US-led forces was not resistance to occupation but "the work of indiscriminate killers."

Iraq's interim Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said Iran had agreed to help tighten control along the long border between the two countries and try to prevent infiltration, according to the BBC.

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=20142&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

Tehran Insists on Nuke 'Rights'

November 30, 2003
The Washington Times
Ali Akbar Dareini

TEHRAN — Iran insisted yesterday its decision to suspend uranium enrichment was "voluntary and temporary," saying it plans to enrich enough fuel for at least one of seven nuclear power plants it expects to build.

Hasan Rowhani, head of the powerful Supreme National Security Council, also said Iran would punish countries that backed U.S. efforts to take Iran's nuclear record to the United Nations Security Council at last week's board meeting of the U.N. nuclear agency.

"Our decision to suspend uranium enrichment is voluntary and temporary. Uranium enrichment is Iran's natural right and [Iran] will reserve for itself this right. ... There has been and there will be no question of a permanent suspension or halt at all," Mr. Rowhani told a news conference.

"We want to control the whole fuel cycle," he added. "Since we are planning to build seven nuclear power plants in the future, we want to provide fuel for at least one or more of the plants ourselves."

The 35-member board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a compromise resolution last week censuring Iran for secrecy in its nuclear program but not directly threatening U.N. sanctions, as the United States had sought. Key European powers, worried that Tehran would stop cooperating, opposed a direct threat.

Iran has insisted its nuclear program is aimed only at peaceful uses, challenging U.S. accusations it planned to make weapons.

The Iranian government hopes to produce 6,000 megawatts of electricity by 2021 from nuclear reactors, along with one currently under construction. Iran's first nuclear power plant, being built by the Russians, is expected to be completed by the end of 2004.

Mr. Rowhani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, said Iran possesses the technology necessary to enrich uranium and does not need foreign assistance.

"Today, we can produce centrifugal parts ourselves. We possess the technology. We are at the pilot stage. We haven't reached the semi-industrial or industrial stage yet. It's a local technology now," he said.

Mr. Rowhani said countries that supported the U.S. position would be effectively barred from receiving lucrative contracts for huge energy and development projects in Iran.

Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand offered outright support to Washington, while Russia and China worked for a softer resolution, along with other European, nonaligned and Latin American states.

"Iran will not treat countries that stood beside America and others equally. We will scrutinize this carefully. In big economic projects, Iran will consider this," he said.

http://www.washtimes.com/world/20031129-115547-7423r.htm

Captured While Trying to Slip Into Iran

November 30, 2003
The Associated Press
Suzan Fraser

ANKARA, Turkey -- A central figure in the suicide bombing of an Istanbul synagogue was captured while trying to slip into Iran, police said Saturday. He was charged with trying to overthrow Turkey's "constitutional order" -- an offense equivalent to treason.

The suspect, whose name was not released, is believed to have given the order to carry out the Nov. 15 truck bombing of the Beth Israel synagogue -- one of four suicide attacks that killed 61 people in Turkey in November, said Istanbul Deputy Police Chief Halil Yilmaz.

Authorities arrested the man Tuesday at the Gurbulak crossing in eastern Agri province, which borders Iran.

A court charged him Saturday with attempting to overthrow Turkey's constitutional order by force, an offense that is punishable by life in prison. Authorities have charged another 20 people in connection with the bombings, but for lesser roles.

"It is understood that the arrested person carried out intelligence gathering on Beth Israel synagogue before the attack, went to the location with other accomplices on the day of the attack and ordered the start of the attack," Yilmaz said.

Suspect's role unspecified He was the first significant figure charged in connection with the bombings at two synagogues, the British Consulate and London-based HSBC Bank in Istanbul. Authorities didn't specify his alleged role in the plot or how many others they think are involved.

The synagogue bombings killed 29 people and the consulate and HSBC attacks killed 32. The death toll includes all four suicide bombers, who authorities said were Turks.

Police arrested the suspect in the Beth Israel attack after receiving a tip that he planned to flee the country with false documents, Yilmaz said.

On Saturday, television footage showed police escorting the man, in handcuffs and blue police flak jacket, to the synagogue site where he described the attack to an inspector, occasionally turning to point at a street or the wreckage of the synagogue as an officer filmed him.

Turkish police routinely take suspects to the scene of a crime as part of a confession, though authorities did not say whether that had occurred in this case.

Previously, a person charged with attempting to overthrow the "constitutional order by force" could have faced the death penalty but the country abolished capital punishment as part of a series of reforms intended to increase the likelihood that the European Union will accept Turkey as a member.

Al-Qaida signs seen Western and Turkish officials say the suicide attacks bore the hallmarks of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida. Newspapers have said some of the bombers could have been trained at the group's camps in Afghanistan or Iran.

It was not known why the suspect tried to flee to Iran.

In the past, authorities have accused Tehran of backing radical Islamic groups in Turkey and alleged that members of an Islamic radical group suspected in a series of killings trained in Iran and received support from its government.

U.S. counterterrorism officials said last month that a few senior al-Qaida operatives who fled to Iran after the Afghan war may have developed a working relationship with a secretive military unit linked to Iran's religious hard-liners.

Iran has said it has some al-Qaida operatives in custody but has refused to identify them or provide other details.

A London-based Arabic newspaper, Asharq al-Awsat, reported Friday that a man backed by Iran and linked in the past to the radical group Hezbollah was behind the Istanbul bombings. The paper identified the man as Imad Mughniyah but did not reveal its source for the information, and the report could not be confirmed.

Turkish authorities have identified the synagogue suicide bombers as Mesut Cabuk, 29, and Gokhan Elaltuntas, 22, both from the town of Bingol in the Kurdish-dominated southeastern Turkey. The consulate and bank bombers have yet to be officially identified.

http://www.oregonlive.com/metro/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/exclude/107019711472251.xml

Iraqi delegation headed by Ahmad Chalabi arrives in Iran

Payvand.com
11/30/03

Member of Iraq's Governing Council Ahmad Chalabi, heading an Iraqi delegation, arrived in Qasr-e Shirin, Kermanshah province on Sunday through the international Khosravi border, to hold talks with Iranian authorities, IRNA reported.

Chalabi was welcomed on arrival in Iranian territory by Qasr-e Shirin Governor Hossein Khosh-Eqbal and a number of provincial officials.

In a meeting at Khosravi border, Chalabi and Khosh-Eqbal discussed expediting the process for the pilgrimage of Iranians visiting the sacred sites in neighboring Iraq, given the growing number of pilgrims arriving in the country via Khosravi border.

For his part, Chalabi noted the increase in the number of Iranian pilgrims visiting Iraq through the indicated border.

At the meeting, Khosh-Eqbal called for the increased use of the border by the Iranian pilgrims intending to visit Iraq, given the current infrastructures and facilities available in the border city of Qasr-e Shirin.

Head of Iraq's National Congress left for Tehran to meet Iranian officials on matters of mutual concern, after his meeting with Qasr-e Shirin governor.

http://www.payvand.com/news/03/nov/1183.html

A Crime And Its Cover-Up

The killing of an innocent journalist in state custody is re-energizing Iran’s reformists

By Babak Dehghanpisheh
NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL

Dec. 8 issue — With his suit, thin-rimmed glasses and trim beard, Said Mortazavi could pass as a college professor. But few of Iran’s literati would mistake him for a colleague. During a three-year stint as head of Tehran’s Press Court, Mortazavi was responsible for shutting down dozens of reformist newspapers and jailing more than 20 journalists. Critics dubbed him the “butcher of the press.” In recent weeks, Mortazavi, who was appointed Tehran’s public prosecutor in May, has been grabbing headlines again—not for jailing a journalist, but for his alleged role in covering up the death of one.

THE EXTRAORDINARY CASE of Zahra Kazemi, a 54-year-old photographer with both Iranian and Canadian citizenship, has exposed the operation of shadowy security services in Iran and brought international condemnation on the government. Two weeks ago a U.N. committee passed a resolution, drafted by the Canadian government, slamming Iran for human-rights violations. Perhaps more importantly, Kazemi’s death has sparked a major fight between the reformist-dominated majlis , or Parliament, and the hard-line judiciary. Analysts say the dispute is not just about how the Kazemi case gets resolved. There is a larger issue at stake—namely, next February’s parliamentary elections. “Kazemi has become a very important domestic issue,” says a Tehran-based Western diplomat. “If there is a sense that justice isn’t being done, the reformists could lose a lot of support.”

http://www.msnbc.com/news/999478.asp?cp1=1

Iran Waits For Iraq On Crude Oil Swap Offer

November 30, 2003
Dow Jones Newswires
Sally Jones

TEHRAN -- Iran is waiting to see if its offer to swap crude oil with Iraq will go ahead, a top Iranian oil official told Dow Jones Newswires Sunday.

Iran's governor to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, said Tehran is waiting for a final decision from Baghdad to see if it will accept its offer to receive some 350,000 barrels a day of Iraqi crude oil at the Abadan refinery in southern Iran. Iran would then sell the same volume of crude at its Khargh Island oil facility on Baghdad's behalf.

Kazempour said Tehran had initially offered a swap package of 350,000 b/d, but added this could be doubled to 700,000 b/d if Iraq agrees.

He said a committee of oil experts from both Iran and Iraq are now studying the proposal. But he refused to speculate on whether Washington would prevent Baghdad from going ahead with the project.

However, the official said that Baghdad has offered Iran cash to purchase both Iranian kerosene and LPG, and Kazempour expects this project to get underway fairly quickly.

He said the joint comity will also explore the possibility for Iran and Iraq to work together on oil fields which the two share on their joint border.

Iran has also offered Baghdad the opportunity to set up joint electricity and power grids he said. He added that Tehran has also offered Iraq Iranian construction companies to help it revamp its oil facilities.

http://iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2003&m=11&d=30&a=5

The Constitutional Revolution and the Iranian flag Members of the first and the second Iranian Parliaments, formed after Mozafarodin Shah Qajar granted the constitutionalists the rights they were seeking, decided in the Article 5 of the constitution: “the official colors of the Iranian flag are green, white, and red along with the lion and the sun signs.” No details were determined as to the order of these colors or the location of the signs.

This lack of specifications was partly due to the presence of some Muslim clergies in the Parliament, who would deem using any animated figure against the Islam. The secular MPs had to resort to some lengthy justifications to convince the fundamentalist MPs to finally ratify the clause. Green, as the favorite color of Islam, red a symbol of the blood of martyrs, and white the universal symbol of peace and the favorite color of the Zoroasterianism, the ancient religion of the pre-Islamic Iran were easily ratified.

This flag was changed after the 1979 revolution and is now widely used by almost all opposition group as a symbol of their opposition to the government in Iran. During demonstrations in Iran these flags illegally brought in were flown. The penalty for use of this flag is death sentence in Iran. This is likely the flag will take form when regime changes in Iran.

The Iranian flag in the Post Islamic-Revolution Era Article 18th of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, passed on in 1979 (1358 H.J.) states: “The official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran is composed of green, white and red colors with the special emblem of Islamic Republic in the middle together with the motto”.

Saudi Interrogators Try Gentler Approach

AP | 11/30/03
Posted on 11/30/2003 11:39 AM PST by kattracks
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Nov. 30 — Saudi Arabia, known for harsh criminal penalties such as beheadings, is trying a gentler approach to get information from some al-Qaida captives. Saudi interrogators often bring clerics and a Quran to their prison interviews to establish a religious connection, a technique that has proved successful in eliciting information from terrorist suspects and reorienting them to less violent religious beliefs.

The tactic, similar to the way cult deprogrammers work in the United States, has impressed American counterparts enough that Saudi intelligence was permitted to use some of the principles on their citizens being held at the U.S. detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Saudi officials said.

The technique is being credited in part for the extraordinary public renouncement of violence by two former militant Saudi clerics, Nasser al-Fahd and Ali al-Khudair. They went on state-owned television in the past few weeks to recant their religious edicts promoting violence.

"We see this as an important development, one that is getting the attention it needs to get inside Saudi Arabia," U.S. embassy spokesman Carol Kalin said in a telephone interview from Riyadh, the Saudi capital....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1031147/posts

Note: Interesting read. -- DoctorZin

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