Saudi Arabian authorities have accused members of Islamic terror group Al Qaeda of using popular
websites to recruit young people into what has been described as a new
online-based “invasion”, it was reported.
The Ministry of Islamic
Affairs’ so-called Assakina initiative has claimed that female members are
targeting young men and women through sports and music sites, Saudi Gazette
reported.
According to
sources quoted by the newspaper, their aim is to attract a big
number of people in an “organised and covert manner”.
The sources said they operate from within Saudi Arabia and abroad.
“Their method is to individually participate on many websites and forums and
interact with people,” the Gazette reported.
It is believed that the nickname ‘Rabeebah Al Selah’ (female ally of weapon) is
used by some women on Al Qaeda sites.
Saudi has in the last decade clamped down hard on potential security threats, with
the kingdom earlier this month formally designating the Muslim Brotherhood a
terrorist group.
The kingdom has also designated Nusra Front and the
Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, whose fighters are battling Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, as terrorist organisations.
It followed last month’s royal decree where Riyadh said
it would jail for between three and 20 years any citizen who fought guilty of
fighting in conflicts abroad.
The kingdom’s authorities want to deter Saudis from
joining rebels in Syria and posing a security risk once they return home.
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