180 Perish in Saudi Prison Blaze Horror

16/09/2003| IslamWeb

More than 144 prisoners and 40 security men burned to death in Saudi Arabia’s largest jail, more than double the official toll given by authorities. The shocking figures were released to Aljazeera by London-based dissident Saad al-Faqih who first broke the news of the al-Hair Prision blaze on Monday, saying his information came from “an unimpeachable security source”. But Saudi Arabia's prison chief, quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency news agency, said the Riyadh jail blaze "left 67 inmates dead, as well as 20 inmates and three security men wounded." It is not yet known if the prison housed any of the 200 Islamists arrested in recent months in a nationwide hunt for possible supporters of Saudi-born Usama bin Ladin's al-Qaida organisation. However, another Saudi dissident, Dr Muhammad al-Massari – once a prisoner himself in Riyadh - doubted that any political prisoners were likely to be held in al-Hair prison. "I don't believe the prison affected by the fire holds political prisoners, but it is nearby," he said. **No justice*** However he and al-Faqih said they also believed that many of the prisoners held in al-Hair had been denied any form of justice and suspected some were being held without trial. In an exclusive interview with Aljazeera, Dr Mubarak bin Zuwairi confirmed their fears when he said he knew of one inmate who had spent eight years without any official charge, legal representation or trial. The Saudi dissident said it was particularly tragic because many of those who died may not have been guilty of anything at all. **Cause of fire*** There is already speculation that an electrical fault may have been the cause. But a Saudi security source told journalists in Dubai: "It is too early to tell whether the fire is an act of sabotage but an investigation is going on." By evening, the blaze appeared to be extinguished and no smoke was visible outside the prison, 40km south of the capital, witnesses said. Relatives of prisoners crowded a road leading to the large prison complex trying to find out about their loved ones. Saudi television showed footage of police officials visiting the blackened cell blocks. Some parts of the prison were cordoned off, apparently before the arrival of forensic and fire investigators. Interior Minister Prince Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz ordered a committee to be set up to investigate the cause of the fire. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Saudi Arabia's biggest prison in Riyadh

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