Changes

The Grand Mosque in Mecca (home of the [[Kaaba]]) was briefly taken over for a period of weeks by an obscure group led by a poorly educated ''Bedouin'' named Juhayman<ref>Review of ''[http://www.fsmitha.com/review/trofimov2.html The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al Qaeda]'', Yaroslav Trofimov, Doubleday, 2007.</ref> whose theology was an early manifestation of modern violent [[Salafi]]sm. These believers did not embrace many aspects of modern society. They opposed identity cards and passports because these denote loyalty to an entity other than [[Allah]]. They were against [[Idolatry|images of living beings]], not only on television and in photography but also on coins. The only previous violent encounter was when a group of young activists were caught smashing shop display windows showing female mannequins in the center of Medina in 1965. And they had peculiar views on ritual practices setting them apart from other religious communities and the religious establishment.

The Grand Mosque in Mecca (home of the [[Kaaba]]) was briefly taken over for a period of weeks by an obscure group led by a poorly educated ''Bedouin'' named Juhayman<ref>Review of ''[http://www.fsmitha.com/review/trofimov2.html The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al Qaeda]'', Yaroslav Trofimov, Doubleday, 2007.</ref> whose theology was an early manifestation of modern violent [[Salafi]]sm. These believers did not embrace many aspects of modern society. They opposed identity cards and passports because these denote loyalty to an entity other than [[Allah]]. They were against [[Idolatry|images of living beings]], not only on television and in photography but also on coins. The only previous violent encounter was when a group of young activists were caught smashing shop display windows showing female mannequins in the center of Medina in 1965. And they had peculiar views on ritual practices setting them apart from other religious communities and the religious establishment.

The incident revealed the Saudi state was thoroughly unprepared to deal with a challenge to its legitimacy from conservative religious believers.<ref>Thomas Hegghammer and Stephane Lacroix.  [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=862184 Rejectionist Islamism in Saudi Arabia: The Story of Juhayman al-Utaybi Revisited.] International Journal of Middle East Studies, February 2007, pp 103-122, Cambridge University Press.</ref> After three days of fruitless negotiations, the Saudi's turned to external, non-Islamic "crusader" forces to dislodge the jihadis. Non-Muslims are not allowed within the city of Mecca, and bloodshed on the grounds of the temple is considered virtually an unpardonable sin; yet the Saudi state and its reigning religious establishment deputized, through a fatwa, the French Special Operations Forces to retake the mosque.<ref>Many details of the Mosque takeover remain officially classified Saudi state secrets.  [http://www.ahlu-sunnah.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1667&d=1280248308 The Makkan Siege: In Defense of Juhayman], a collection of internet reports on the siege and excerpts of Juhayman's letters. Juhayman is considered to have provided more inspiration to the the modern jihadist movement than Osama bin Laden who left virtually no religious writings behind.</ref><ref>Peterson, J.E. “[http://www.jepeterson.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/APBN-003_Saudi_Arabia_Internal_Security_Incidents_Since_1979.pdf Saudi Arabia: Internal Security Incidents Since 1979.]” Arabian Peninsula Background Note, No. APBN-003. Published on www.JEPeterson.net, January 2004; updated 31 December 2007.</ref>

The incident revealed the Saudi state was thoroughly unprepared to deal with a challenge to its legitimacy from conservative religious believers.<ref>Thomas Hegghammer and Stephane Lacroix.  [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=862184 Rejectionist Islamism in Saudi Arabia: The Story of Juhayman al-Utaybi Revisited.] International Journal of Middle East Studies, February 2007, pp 103-122, Cambridge University Press.</ref> After three days of fruitless negotiations, the Saudi's turned to external, non-Islamic "crusader" forces to dislodge the jihadis. Non-Muslims are not allowed within the city of Mecca, and bloodshed on the grounds of the temple is considered virtually an unpardonable sin; yet the Saudi state and its reigning religious establishment deputized, through a fatwa, the French Special Operations Forces to retake the mosque.<ref>Many details of the Mosque takeover remain officially classified Saudi state secrets.  [http://cat-int.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-Makkah-Siege-In-defense-of-Juhayman-Sayyid-2004.pdf The Makkan Siege: In Defense of Juhayman], a collection of internet reports on the siege and excerpts of Juhayman's letters. Juhayman is considered to have provided more inspiration to the the modern jihadist movement than Osama bin Laden who left virtually no religious writings behind.</ref><ref>Peterson, J.E. “[http://www.jepeterson.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/APBN-003_Saudi_Arabia_Internal_Security_Incidents_Since_1979.pdf Saudi Arabia: Internal Security Incidents Since 1979.]” Arabian Peninsula Background Note, No. APBN-003. Published on www.JEPeterson.net, January 2004; updated 31 December 2007.</ref>

Official reports say that 255 fanatics, troops and pilgrims were killed, while 560 were injured. The rebels who survived were imprisoned or beheaded, with reports claiming 63 beheadings.

Official reports say that 255 fanatics, troops and pilgrims were killed, while 560 were injured. The rebels who survived were imprisoned or beheaded, with reports claiming 63 beheadings.