Prince Turki◦ Educated in America◦ No real seriousness

Return to home, 1973

Change in Saudi Arabia◦ King Faisal assumes the

throne◦ Major changes

Infrastructure Needed roots to cling too:

Islam Widespread anti-

modernization sentiments Too much money

◦ Progressive reforms Introduction of female

education Abolishment of slavery Brought T.V. Co-opted the Ulema (clergy)

Employees of the State Sought to temper radicalism

Assassinated 1975◦ By nephew◦ Angered by reforms

King Khaled successor Crisis

◦ November 20, 1979◦ Insurgents opened fire in the

Grand Mosque on 50,000 worshippers

◦ Chained gates, killed policemen

◦ Called themselves the Mahdi Significance: The Mahdi, in oral

tradition, will come near the end of time

Jesus and Mahdi will fight the AntiChrist

NOT accepted by most Muslims◦ Leader named Juhayman al-

Otebi said God revealed to him in a dream that he was the Mahdi

◦ No one thought they posed a real threat

Hostage situation◦ Lasted two weeks◦ Prince Turki sent to deal with◦ Most hostages let go◦ Issue of military assault:

Against Quran Had to get permission of clergy Deal struck between King and Ulema

– fatwa issued◦ 400-500 insurgents inside

Prepared for weeks Attempts by government disasters

Prince Turki took charge◦ Called on the bin Ladens◦ Had maps and layout of Mosque◦ Demands of insurgents

Non-westernization No royal family Accounting of money Cut off oil to west Foreigners out of the Kingdom

◦ 2 weeks to end crisis

Consequences◦ Largest execution in

Saudi history◦ Kingdom

traumatized Holiest place defiled Authority of royal

family challenged

What direction would the Kingdom take in the future?

1979 Soviet troops invade Afghanistan◦ Osama bin Laden heads to Afghanistan

within days◦ Influence Abdullah Azzam

Embodied modern warrior priest “Jihad and rifles alone” “called” to Afghan resistance Struggle was against jahiliyya

world of unbelief before Islam Still corrupted the faithful Recruited for the cause using bin Laden’s home

in the Kingdom Bin Laden revered Azzam

◦ Jeddah became transit system for Azzam’s “calling Young muslim pilgrims mainly Some fugitives

Bin Laden◦ Opened half-way house for recruits◦ Ran military camps◦ Talented fundraiser◦ Saudi family encouraged◦ Rallied behind Jihad due to threat of

Communism◦ **DRAWING A LINE against retreat of

their religion, which was God’s last word and the only hope of human salvation.

Bin Laden not allowed by Saudi government to go to Afghanistan◦ Promised he wouldn’t