Canadian iman waiting to learn fate after forcible arrest in Saudi Arabia
Posted October 31, 2011 5:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There was still no word early Monday on the fate of an Edmonton imam reportedly beaten and arrested while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Usama Al-Atar was leading a prayer in the holy city of Medina on Sunday when members of the Saudi religious police reportedly asked the small group to move along, said a British member of the group.
Mohamed Hayward said the officials then harassed the pilgrims and zeroed in on Al-Atar, a 33-year-old researcher at the University of Alberta.
“They virtually strangled him. We saw him go black and blue.”
Hayward said Al-Atar was taken into custody and was expecting the iman to appear in court today to possibly face charges but he told The Canadian Press early Monday that Al-Atar had not yet been sent to court.
“He’s been sent to the district attorney office, so we don’t know what’s going to happen there … we’re trying to get a local lawyer.”
Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday that diplomats in Saudi Arabia are aware of the arrest and were ready to provide consular assistance if needed.
But Hayward said no Saudi or Canadian officials have visited with members of the prayer group to discuss Al-Atar’s case.
“We’ve not been given any reassurances that our fellow traveller will be released or whatever … we’ve not been told anything.”
Hayward added that he and others supporting the Edmonton iman are aware of the broad coverage the arrest has received in the Canadian media.
“We just hope that everyone here … are aware of it and have managed to filter that down to the local office down here.”
Hayward said earlier that Al-Atar has an elderly father, a pregnant wife and a three year-old-child in Canada who are all “extremely worried.”
“He’s a fully-fledged normal Canadian guy,” he said. “We’re just minding our own business, we’re all from London and America and Canada and Europe, and we’re all just trying to get on with our spiritual programs here.”
The U.K.-Islamic Human Rights Commission has picked up on Al-Atar’s case and issued a statement Sunday calling for his immediate release.
