Tag this one under Road, Hell, and Good-intentions…
According to the pro-Saudi publication Asharq Al-Awsat, suspected Al Qaeda terrorist Mishaal al-Shadoukhi has contacted the Saudi embassy in Yemen to claim responsibility for the kidnapping of Saudi diplomat Abdullah Al-Khalidi on behalf of the Al Qaeda organization, demanding an unspecified ransom, as well as the release of prisoners held by Riyadh, in exchange for the diplomat’s release.
Mishaal al-Shadoukhi, who is on the Saudi government’s list of most wanted fugitives, was at one point a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay, and among the first detainees to be repatriated to Saudi Arabia.
Following his repatriation, he underwent a state-approved “Munasaha” rehabilitation program and was released.
Saudi Arabia’s “Munasaha” program is designed to get at the roots of terrorism in that country. It looks into the content of sermons, lectures, and religious gatherings in order to persuade people that extremism is not the way to move forward. As Saudi Gazette/Okaz reported, “the program combines the wisdom of a range of academics and experts in Shariah law to explain the ‘proper principles of Shariah law’ and includes women as advisors.” The program travels to areas targeted by the government due to their recent experiences and incidents of terror-related extremism.
Too bad that once al-Shadoukhi was fully rehabilitated, he fled to Yemen, rejoined Al Qaeda, and started kidnapping Saudi dignitaries for ransom.
