Mecca –
A country pilgrim United States of America (USA) detained in Saudi Arabia while worshiping uhm. He was arrested after an altercation with security officers.
As AFP reported on Monday (11/14/2022), the citizen of that country goes by the name of Mohamad Salem. He was arrested on Nov. 1 and was transferred to a maximum-security facility normally used for high-profile political prisoners and terrorist suspects.
He is one of several Americans who have recently clashed with Saudi authorities amid growing tensions between the two longtime partners over global oil supplies.
“Salem, 63, of Yemeni origin, traveled to Saudi Arabia with his two sons to perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the holiest site in Islam,” the Moughni family spokesman said by telephone from Salem residence.
While in line, he got into a verbal altercation with the security guard which separated him from his children. Later, two men approached him saying they were from Libya and asked him what happened.
“By this point, Mohammad was furious, he was furious. He let it out. He said, ‘If it wasn’t for Mecca and Medina, we would have razed this country to the ground,'” said Moughni, who confirmed the i details of the incident spoke with Salem’s son.
“The two men turned out to be undercover Saudi agents and Salem was taken into custody,” Moughni continued.
Saudi officials and the US embassy in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Moughni said the embassy had provided the Salem family with a list of possible lawyers, but so far none have agreed to take up the case.
Salem’s relatives don’t know if he has been charged. They have become increasingly concerned for his well-being since Salem was transferred to Dhahban Central Prison, where Amnesty International has previously documented allegations of torture by electric shock and caning.
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