Sa'ad Al-Faqih
Encyclopedia
Dr Sa'ad Rashed Mohammad al-Faqih (born January 2, 1957 in Az Zubayr
, Iraq
), also known as Sa'ad Al-Fagih, Sa'ad Al-Fakih or Sa'ad Al-Faki is a Muslim
Saudi
national who heads the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia
(MIRA). He lives in London
and was a professor
of surgery
at King Saud University
in Riyadh
until 1994. He was a key player in preparing the “Letter of Demands” of 1991 and the "Memorandum of Advice" the following year. Both documents were endorsed by a considerable number of prominent figures including Sheikh Bin Baz, Al-Othaimeen and Salman Al-Oda, these were then presented to the King at the time Fahd. In 1994 Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights
was established and Al-Faqeeh was appointed as the Head of its London Office with another Saudi dissident Mohammad al-Massari
as the spokesperson. The two separated, and al-Faqih went on to set up MIRA in 1996.
Al-Faqih's organisation opposes the current sociopolitical and religious
policy of Saudi Arabia
. Although campaigning for religious reform, he prefers not to be referred to as a Wahabbist. He maintains that Islam
advocates separation of powers
, freedom of expression, transparency
and women's rights
in contrast to what he maintains is the current Saudi policy. He is also an anti-royalist, asserting the Saudi government has lost its religious legitimacy.
In December 2004 the US Treasury
accused al-Faqih of being affiliated to Al Qaeda, and alleges he has maintained relations to the group since 1998. Two days later, the names of al-Faqih and MIRA were added to the UN 1267 Committee
's list of individuals and entities belonging to or associated with al-Qaeda. The Treasury statement mentions al-Faqih's past affiliation with Osama bin Laden
, Khalid al-Fawwaz
, Mustafa Setmariam Nasar
, and an obscure al-Qaeda ideologue who writes, or used to write, under the name Lewis Attiyatullah. Dr Sa'ad Al-Faqih asserts that authorities such as the United States government wish to vilify him because they are allies with the current Saudi regime which he opposes and denies all allegations.
BBC five reported a claim that in 1996 Dr Saad Al Faqih purchased an Exact-M 22 satellite phone
for Osama bin Laden, an allegation which has not even been investigated, nor has he been charged by any court in the world.
Al-Faqeeh confirms that he and MIRA are "totally committed to peaceful agenda.".
Az Zubayr
Az Zubayr is a town in Basra Governorate in Iraq. It has a population of around 90,000.The name is also sometimes written Az Zubair, Zubair, Zoubair, El Zubair, or Zobier.-Early history:...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
), also known as Sa'ad Al-Fagih, Sa'ad Al-Fakih or Sa'ad Al-Faki is a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Saudi
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
national who heads the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia
Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia
The Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia , a U.K.-based Saudi oppositionist organization headed by Dr. Sa'ad Al-Faqih, who has been a key figure in the reform movement in Saudi Arabia since the Persian Gulf War. According to Dr...
(MIRA). He lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
at King Saud University
King Saud University
King Saud University is a public university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 1957 by King Saud bin Abdul Aziz as Riyadh University, as the first university in the kingdom not dedicated to religious subjects. The university was created to meet the shortage of skilled workers in...
in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
until 1994. He was a key player in preparing the “Letter of Demands” of 1991 and the "Memorandum of Advice" the following year. Both documents were endorsed by a considerable number of prominent figures including Sheikh Bin Baz, Al-Othaimeen and Salman Al-Oda, these were then presented to the King at the time Fahd. In 1994 Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights
Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights
The Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights was a Saudi dissident group created in 1993 which opposed the Saudi government as un-Islamic.-History:...
was established and Al-Faqeeh was appointed as the Head of its London Office with another Saudi dissident Mohammad al-Massari
Mohammad al-Massari
Dr. Mohammad Al-Massari is an exiled Saudi physicist and political dissident who gained asylum in the United Kingdom in 1994. He runs the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights and is an adviser to the Islamic Human Rights Commission....
as the spokesperson. The two separated, and al-Faqih went on to set up MIRA in 1996.
Al-Faqih's organisation opposes the current sociopolitical and religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
policy of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Although campaigning for religious reform, he prefers not to be referred to as a Wahabbist. He maintains that Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
advocates separation of powers
Separation of powers
The separation of powers, often imprecisely used interchangeably with the trias politica principle, is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic...
, freedom of expression, transparency
Transparency (humanities)
Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed...
and women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
in contrast to what he maintains is the current Saudi policy. He is also an anti-royalist, asserting the Saudi government has lost its religious legitimacy.
In December 2004 the US Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
accused al-Faqih of being affiliated to Al Qaeda, and alleges he has maintained relations to the group since 1998. Two days later, the names of al-Faqih and MIRA were added to the UN 1267 Committee
United Nations Security Council Committee 1267
The 1267 Committee , was established on 15 October 1999, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1267 concerning Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda and/or the Taliban and associated individuals and entities. The 1267 Committee is one of three Security Council committees dealing with counter-terrorism...
's list of individuals and entities belonging to or associated with al-Qaeda. The Treasury statement mentions al-Faqih's past affiliation with Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
, Khalid al-Fawwaz
Khalid al-Fawwaz
Khalid Abdulrahman al-Fawwaz kunya: Abu Omar al-Sebai is a Saudi who has been under indictment in the United States since 1998, accused of helping to prepare the1998 United States embassy bombings...
, Mustafa Setmariam Nasar
Mustafa Setmariam Nasar
Mustafa bin Abd al-Qadir Sitt Maryam Nasar is a suspected al-Qaeda member and writer. He has held Spanish citizenship since the late 1980s following marriage to a Spanish woman....
, and an obscure al-Qaeda ideologue who writes, or used to write, under the name Lewis Attiyatullah. Dr Sa'ad Al-Faqih asserts that authorities such as the United States government wish to vilify him because they are allies with the current Saudi regime which he opposes and denies all allegations.
BBC five reported a claim that in 1996 Dr Saad Al Faqih purchased an Exact-M 22 satellite phone
Satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites...
for Osama bin Laden, an allegation which has not even been investigated, nor has he been charged by any court in the world.
Al-Faqeeh confirms that he and MIRA are "totally committed to peaceful agenda.".