CAIRO
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on Monday issued a decree mandating jail terms for whoever engages in unsanctioned combat outside the kingdom or joins "radical movements" or "terrorist groups."
The decree stipulates jail terms of between five and 30 years for army personnel who participate in unsanctioned combat operations abroad or join "radical" or "terrorist" groups.
The new decree applies to any Saudi citizen who joins groups dubbed "terrorist" organizations by the Saudi government or at the regional or international levels.
It also applies to anyone who supports these groups and their ideologies, be it financial or "moral" support.
The decree tasks several government agencies, including the Interior Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, to regularly update its lists of groups in this regard and refer them to the king for endorsement.
The decree was issued two days after new anti-terror legislation took effect in Saudi Arabia, which considers any action that threatens the country's unity, disturbs public order, or defames the state or the king to be "terrorism."
By Ahmed al-Masri
englishnews@aa.com.tr
