Ahmad Al Jarba is the Saudi-appointed leader of the Syrian Coalition of Something Opposition (the damn name keep changing every few months just as the leaders change, so I have lost track of the latest model). He was in Washington this past week, making what he has been told are the ‘right noises’, like opining that: “we seek to establish a civil democratic heterogeneous state in Syria………..”. Even as his Jihadi militia allies take hostages, chop heads, and kill, all based on identity.
Meanwhile there were some gruesome news from Saudi Arabia, the country whose princes appointed Mr. Al Jarba to lead an alternative to the Al Assad regime. Raef Badawi, the young man who started the Saudi Liberal Network had his original sentence increased to 10 years (from 7 years) in prison plus 1000 lashes (one thousand instead of 600) and a fine of one million shekels riyals. He had been was convicted of “opposing mainstream values”, meaning being a non-conformist, as well as mocking theologian symbols. Ten years and a heavy session with the official torturer for a thousand lashes for being a “non-conformist”. The Wahhabi court also recommended that he be tried for apostasy (changing his religion from Wahhabism) which carries a sentence of death.
mhg
