2010/04/15 by Toby Matthiesen · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Islamic Studies and History #Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts #Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
paper · doi:10.3751/64.2.11
openalex publication_date 2010/04/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
This article discusses the emergence, ideology, and activities of the Saudi Shi‘a opposition group <i>Hizbullah al-Hijaz</i> and its clerical wing, the <i>Tajamu‘ ‘Ulama’ al-Hijaz.</i> The group has played a significant but little known role in Saudi-Iranian relations since 1987 following its creation as a rival to the other Saudi Shi‘a opposition group, the Islamic Revolution Organization. Hizbullah al-Hijaz was pro-Iranian and followed the <i>Marja‘iyya</i> of Ayatollahs Khomeini and Khamene‘i. Although it officially denounced any engagement with the Saudi leadership, it profited from a general amnesty in 1993. After it was blamed for the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996, most of its members were arrested and its organization dismantled.