RIYADH, 11 December 2003 — In coordination with the government and in an effort to rid the Kingdom of terrorists, Arab News is publishing some background information on the terror suspects. They are wanted by the authorities for their involvement in terrorist acts that have taken place in the country over the last eight months. Any person — Saudi or non-Saudi — who has any information at all about any of the following individuals is asked to contact the Ministry of the Interior’s hot line: 990. The ministry is offering a reward of SR7 million to anyone who helps foil a terrorist attack or plot, SR5 million to anyone who supplies information about a terrorist cell and SR1 million to anyone who reports a wanted terrorist.
Abdullah Rashoud
Full name: Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al-Rashoud
Nationality: Saudi
Age: Unknown
Background: He was a teacher in the scientific institute section of the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University located in the Malaz area of Riyadh. He disappeared after leaving his teaching job several years ago. His whereabouts remain unknown. His family was shocked to see his name and picture on the list of wanted terrorist suspects distributed by the Ministry of the Interior and they knew nothing of his activities.
Khaled Al-Qurashi
Full name: Khaled ibn Mubarak Al-Qurashi
Nationality: Saudi
Age: 27
Background: He dropped out of high school and joined the Saudi Navy where he remained for four years and then left. After leaving the navy, he became friends with some extremists who influenced his ideas and actions. His family says that he followed the extremists unthinkingly. Once, his father said, he threw their TV on the floor, smashing it. He said it was a sinful instrument that should never have been bought. His father advised him to return to moderation and give up his new extremist ideas but all was in vain. Khaled influenced his younger brother to follow him and he was arrested by security forces last year. Khaled is married but has no children; he has never been to Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq.
Abdul Majeed Al-Munie
Full name: Abdul Majeed ibn Muhammad Al-Munie
Nationality: Saudi
Age: Unknown.
Background: Graduated from the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University last year with a “very good” GPA (grade point average). Some of his classmates at the university said that he skipped many classes and even withdrew from some semesters. According to those who knew him, Abdul Majeed was a person who did not mix much with people. His father, Sheikh Muhammad, is an old man well-known for interpreting dreams. He encouraged Abdul Majeed to become a judge after he graduated but Abdul Majeed refused, disappeared and his whereabouts are now unknown.
Isa Al-Aushan
Full name: Isa ibn Saad Al-Aushan
Nationality: Saudi
Age: Unknown
Background: A graduate of the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, he worked as judge in Jizan for some time. He then left his post in the court and worked as an imam in the Omar ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in the Shubra area. He disappeared two years ago and nobody knows anything about him. Though he is married, he has deserted his wife and children. His family knew nothing about him until they saw his photo and name on the list of wanted suspects.
Faris Al-Zahrani
Full name: Faris ibn Ahmad Al-Zahrani
Nationality: Saudi
Age: Unknown
Background: Faris grew up in Al-Baha region where he completed secondary school. He then enrolled in the Abha branch of the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, and for one semester, he studied subjects related to a major in Shariah. While he was in Abha as a student, he was imam in a mosque in the university section of the city. He married at a young age and lived with his wife on the family section of the campus. After a year in Abha, he moved to Qasim to finish his education at the branch of the university there. The university had to suspend him because of frequent absences. Saying that he wanted to open a business in Jeddah, he took SR500,000 from a sheikh from Asir who was living in Qasim. He did not pay the sheikh who then filed a lawsuit. Faris then fled from Qasim and evidently traveled between Qasim and Jeddah. His family said they last heard of him three years ago. They reported his disappearance and later learned that he was on the list of the government’s wanted suspects.
