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Canadian imam beaten, arrested in Saudi Arabia
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Canadian imam beaten, arrested in Saudi Arabia
October 30, 2011 00:10:00
Liam Casey
STAFF REPORTER
Religious police officers beat and arrested a Canadian imam after he recited prayers at a graveyard while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, witnesses said.
Usama Al-Atar, 33, of Edmonton read religious passages to a small group of travellers from Canada, the U.S. and Europe after morning prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina around 6 a.m. Sunday.
Michael Hayward, a British citizen who was part of the group, said a religious police officer watching over the mosque told Al-Atar to lower his voice.
“He was reading to about 10 of us, so he lowered his voice and we crowded close together,” Hayward said. “But the officer wasn’t happy and told us to leave, which we did.”
As the group walked toward the exit of the plaza, the same officer yelled, “Thief!”
The officer pointed at Al-Atar, Hayward said. And then a slew of citizens jumped the Canadian and pinned him to the ground.
“Then the religious police held (Al-Atar) down by the neck and (tried to) strangle him,” Hayward said. “He turned blue and red before they finally stopped.”
A few minutes later, the city police arrived and took the imam to the central station in Medina, Hayward said, allegedly for breaking the same officer’s arm.
“This is just a lie — Usama (Al-Atar) didn’t do anything,” Hayward said.
Saudi Arabia’s religious police largely belong to the Sunni Muslim sect and discriminate against Shiite Muslims, Hayward said. Members of Al-Atar’s group are Shiites.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is aware of the arrest.
“The Canadian Embassy in Riyadh has been notified and stands ready to provide consular assistance as required,” said spokeswoman Aliya Mawani in an email, but she wouldn’t discuss the incident further “due to privacy considerations.”
Al-Atar’s friends in Canada are disturbed by the incident and worried for his safety. Al-Atar is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alberta where he researches solar cells and nanotechnology.
Jeffrey Murphy, who sits beside him in their lab in Edmonton, said he was worried about Al-Atar’s family. The imam’s pregnant wife and 3-year-old daughter remained in Canada.
“He’s a good family man, devout and helpful and friendly,” Murphy said with a quavering voice. “He’s a very Canadian guy.”
Murphy said Al-Atar makes the hajj pilgrimage every year and hasn’t had problems on any of his six previous visits.
“He always comes back joyful and refreshed,” Murphy said. “Maybe not this time, though.”
The U.K.-based Islamic Human Rights Commission, which is lobbying for Al-Atar’s release, demanded Saudi authorities let him go immediately. The commission has procured a lawyer for the imam’s 8 a.m. hearing Monday, where he’s expected to be formally charged with assault.
The commission’s Massoud Shadjareh said tensions are high in Saudi Arabia because of the Arab uprising.
“I don’t think this had anything to do with one man,” Shadjareh said. “This is because of religious and narrow-minded reasons.”
Shadjareh has been in contact with the British embassy in Saudi Arabia, but said he hasn’t been able to get in touch with any Canadian authorities yet.
Shadjareh said he’s hearing rumours about Al-Atar — that authorities have sent him to a psychiatrist because they suspect he’s mentally disturbed — and is worried that the Canadian won’t be treated well unless the government steps in.
“The imam needs someone from the Canadian government at his hearing (Monday),” an exasperated Shadjareh said. “Where are the Canadian authorities?”
With files from The Canadian Press
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