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Middle East
Ben Ali gets refuge in Saudi Arabia
Decision to host former Tunisian president sparks angry criticism on the internet.
Last Modified: 16 Jan 2011 05:47 GMT
The Saudi government welcomed Ben Ali on Friday, ushering him to a heavily guarded palace in Jeddah [AFP] Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia's former president, has taken refuge in Saudi Arabia following a mass public uprising and weeks of deadly protests.
Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday that he and his family have been welcomed into the kingdom due to "exceptional circumstances" in Tunisia.
"Out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people and in support of the security and stability of their country... the Saudi government has welcomed president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family to the kingdom," the government said in a statement.
Ben Ali fled to the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on Friday, where he and his family were ushered to a heavily guarded palace tucked behind palm trees and greenery.
By taking him in, the Saudis wanted to "defuse" the tensions on the streets of Tunisia. It was certainly "not out of sympathy" for Ben Ali, said Mustafa Alani, research director at the Gulf Research Centre.
The Saudis had two options -- either they "contribute to solving the problem by giving him refuge" or "let him stay in the country ... (where) things would go from bad to worse," he said.
Conservative society
Ben Ali, renowned for cracking down on Islamists, had to finally settle in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia as he was refused asylum by one of his closest allies, France.
"It might be ironic for a person who fought the hijab (Muslim women's head cover) to end up being given asylum in an Islamic state," said Riad Kahwaji, head of the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.
"His wife will have to live veiled, under the law there," he said.
In a post on Saudi news website sabq.org, one reader wrote: "Only now does the dictator who fought religion and the religious get to know the land of the two holy shrines (Mecca and Medina) ... You and your wife are not welcome."
"We hope the kingdom will help us bring this man (Ben Ali) to justice, if needed," said another post under the name of "citizen" on the Dubai-based and Saudi-owned alarabiya.net news website.
However, Ben Ali had to accept "a long list of conditions" before the secular leader was given asylum in Saudi Arabia, including being "shut out of the media and out of politics," according to Alani.
Political haven
Several other leaders who found refuge in Saudi Arabia were taken under the same conditions, said Abdul Aziz al-Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Centre.
Until his death in 2003, Uganda's ex-president Idi Amin spent more than two decades in exile in the oil-rich kingdom, kept away from politics and the media.
Saudi Arabia, whose law allows for political asylum in public interest cases, also granted asylum to ex-Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Pervez Musharraf and sent into exile in 2000 before returning in 2007.
"Sharif was not allowed to carry out any political activity in Saudi Arabia. When he decided to return to politics, he left Saudi Arabia," Sagr said.
But the kingdom's decision to house the embattled leader, in power for more than 23 years, sparked angry condemnation among many in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere:
Bilal Randeree
Jan 16, 2011 at 5:19am
Shelter in Saudi: Decision to house Ben Ali criticised
TedNguyen
Jan 16, 2011 at 3:15am
Tunisia's Twitter revolution is working! Tunisia's Twitter revolution | #BenAliInKsa#benali #SidiBouzid #Tunis #Tunez #jasminerevolt
Tunisias Twitter revolution
Bilal Randeree The search tag #BenAliInKSA is being used by those on twitter who are criticising the Saudi decision.
WajdyM
Jan 16, 2011 at 1:40am
AFP: Saudi Arabia: haven to ousted leaders AFP: Saudi Arabia: haven to ousted leaders #Tunisia #BinAli#Saudi Arabia
AFP: Saudi Arabia: haven to ousted leaders
halmustafa
Jan 15, 2011 at 9:33pm
Exiled Tunisian leader greeted by backlash from #Saudi bloggers. by @abeerallamFTFT.com / Middle East & North Africa - Exiled Tunisian leader provokes backlash from Saudi bloggers #BenAliInKs #SidiBouzid #Tunis
FT.com / UK - Exiled Tunisian leader greeted by backlash from Saudi bloggers
Arabic revolution sparks excitement in conservative kingdom
SalmaAFFES
Jan 15, 2011 at 9:32pm
plz ahl jeddah we want Ben Ali to be judjed for the crimes getting place right now, send him back here plzzzzz #saudi #jeddah #sidibouzid
Voiceoftunisia
Jan 15, 2011 at 9:15pm
Saudi Arabia should handover Ben Ali to Tunisian justice. #sidibouzid #tunisia#revolution
monaeltahawy
Jan 15, 2011 at 7:47pm
Shame on #Saudi Arabia Expel the dictator #BenAli #Tunisia deserves justice (pic) #Sidibouzid Yfrog Photo : yfrog.com/h5vx0lj - Shared by monaeltahawy
Yfrog - photo - Uploaded by monaeltahawy
mjoshs
Jan 15, 2011 at 6:44pm
#Saudi's Twitter problem? Many upset that ousted Tunisian leader given sanctuary in KSA. Follow #BenAliInKsa and #benali.
NYMansouri
Jan 15, 2011 at 3:49am
#BenAli, you are NOT welcome in my hometown Jeddah, #Saudi Arabia. #SidiBouzid#BenAliInKsa #Tunisia
Ben Ali gets refuge in Saudi Arabia
Decision to host former Tunisian president sparks angry criticism on the internet.
Last Modified: 16 Jan 2011 05:47 GMT
Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday that he and his family have been welcomed into the kingdom due to "exceptional circumstances" in Tunisia.
"Out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people and in support of the security and stability of their country... the Saudi government has welcomed president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family to the kingdom," the government said in a statement.
Ben Ali fled to the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on Friday, where he and his family were ushered to a heavily guarded palace tucked behind palm trees and greenery.
By taking him in, the Saudis wanted to "defuse" the tensions on the streets of Tunisia. It was certainly "not out of sympathy" for Ben Ali, said Mustafa Alani, research director at the Gulf Research Centre.
The Saudis had two options -- either they "contribute to solving the problem by giving him refuge" or "let him stay in the country ... (where) things would go from bad to worse," he said.
Conservative society
Ben Ali, renowned for cracking down on Islamists, had to finally settle in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia as he was refused asylum by one of his closest allies, France.
"It might be ironic for a person who fought the hijab (Muslim women's head cover) to end up being given asylum in an Islamic state," said Riad Kahwaji, head of the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.
"His wife will have to live veiled, under the law there," he said.
In a post on Saudi news website sabq.org, one reader wrote: "Only now does the dictator who fought religion and the religious get to know the land of the two holy shrines (Mecca and Medina) ... You and your wife are not welcome."
"We hope the kingdom will help us bring this man (Ben Ali) to justice, if needed," said another post under the name of "citizen" on the Dubai-based and Saudi-owned alarabiya.net news website.
However, Ben Ali had to accept "a long list of conditions" before the secular leader was given asylum in Saudi Arabia, including being "shut out of the media and out of politics," according to Alani.
Political haven
Several other leaders who found refuge in Saudi Arabia were taken under the same conditions, said Abdul Aziz al-Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Centre.
Until his death in 2003, Uganda's ex-president Idi Amin spent more than two decades in exile in the oil-rich kingdom, kept away from politics and the media.
Saudi Arabia, whose law allows for political asylum in public interest cases, also granted asylum to ex-Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Pervez Musharraf and sent into exile in 2000 before returning in 2007.
"Sharif was not allowed to carry out any political activity in Saudi Arabia. When he decided to return to politics, he left Saudi Arabia," Sagr said.
But the kingdom's decision to house the embattled leader, in power for more than 23 years, sparked angry condemnation among many in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere:
Bilal RandereeJan 16, 2011 at 5:19am
Shelter in Saudi: Decision to house Ben Ali criticised
TedNguyenJan 16, 2011 at 3:15am
Tunisia's Twitter revolution is working! Tunisia's Twitter revolution | #BenAliInKsa#benali #SidiBouzid #Tunis #Tunez #jasminerevolt
Tunisias Twitter revolution
Bilal Randeree The search tag #BenAliInKSA is being used by those on twitter who are criticising the Saudi decision.
WajdyMJan 16, 2011 at 1:40am
AFP: Saudi Arabia: haven to ousted leaders AFP: Saudi Arabia: haven to ousted leaders #Tunisia #BinAli#Saudi Arabia
AFP: Saudi Arabia: haven to ousted leaders
halmustafaJan 15, 2011 at 9:33pm
Exiled Tunisian leader greeted by backlash from #Saudi bloggers. by @abeerallamFTFT.com / Middle East & North Africa - Exiled Tunisian leader provokes backlash from Saudi bloggers #BenAliInKs #SidiBouzid #Tunis
FT.com / UK - Exiled Tunisian leader greeted by backlash from Saudi bloggers
Arabic revolution sparks excitement in conservative kingdom
SalmaAFFESJan 15, 2011 at 9:32pm
plz ahl jeddah we want Ben Ali to be judjed for the crimes getting place right now, send him back here plzzzzz #saudi #jeddah #sidibouzid
VoiceoftunisiaJan 15, 2011 at 9:15pm
Saudi Arabia should handover Ben Ali to Tunisian justice. #sidibouzid #tunisia#revolution
monaeltahawyJan 15, 2011 at 7:47pm
Shame on #Saudi Arabia Expel the dictator #BenAli #Tunisia deserves justice (pic) #Sidibouzid Yfrog Photo : yfrog.com/h5vx0lj - Shared by monaeltahawy
Yfrog - photo - Uploaded by monaeltahawy
mjoshsJan 15, 2011 at 6:44pm
#Saudi's Twitter problem? Many upset that ousted Tunisian leader given sanctuary in KSA. Follow #BenAliInKsa and #benali.
NYMansouriJan 15, 2011 at 3:49am
#BenAli, you are NOT welcome in my hometown Jeddah, #Saudi Arabia. #SidiBouzid#BenAliInKsa #Tunisia
