The Mecca Uprising
- 208pages
- 8 heures de lecture
On 20th November 1979, the Salafi Group, led by Juhaiman al-Utaibi, seized control of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. The group's aim was not to establish an Islamic state but to fulfill what they believed was a prophetic script concerning the End of Time. After a two-week siege, the Saudi government recaptured the mosque, imprisoning survivors and executing many publicly. This account, written by former Salafi member Nasir al-Huzaimi, provides an insider's perspective on the religious subculture surrounding the uprising. Although Huzaimi did not participate, he was arrested during a government crackdown on Salafi members and spent six years in prison. His memoir, published in 2011, offers a detailed portrayal of the Salafi Group and Juhaiman. The uprising significantly impacted Saudi Arabia and the broader Muslim world, prompting the government to suppress opposition from religious activists and reinforce its legitimacy as the guardians of Islam. Huzaimi's insights illuminate the complex religious and political landscape of the time. The English edition includes an introduction and annotations by expert David Commins, enhancing readers' understanding of the Meccan Uprising's significance in Islamic history.
