On Thursday, soccer fans of the Saudi club Al Safa FC will go on trial at a Damman court after chanting Shia religious songs deemed “sectarian” by Saudi authorities at a match in the Saudi First Division.
Last January, Al Safa FC played Al Bukayriyah FC in Safwa City in Saudi Arabia’s Shia-majority Eastern Province when Al Safa fans chanted Shia slogans and songs during the match, captured on social media footage. Saudi Arabia is a Sunni-majority country.
On February 3, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport said it dissolved the board of directors of Al Safa FC for failing to comply with the laws and regulations in force. The statement noted that the ministry would be “depriving violators of membership in the club or any other clubs, and referring them to the relevant authorities to take the necessary action.” The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced disciplinary measures against the Al Safa citing that the fans recited “phrases and chants that violated the provisions of the disciplinary and ethics regulations”. The club was slapped with a fine of $53,300 and a ban of its fans for the next five league matches.
Twelve members of the supporters club of Al Safa will appear at Damman’s criminal court for charges, including “prejudicing public order by kindling a spirit of sectarian fanaticism by passing on sectarian content in public gathering places” and “disturbing national unity,” under the Anti-Cybercrime Law, a controversial piece of legislation that has allowed authorities to crackdown on the freedom of expression.
“It had nothing to do with dissent or even limited protest,” says James Dorsey, senior fellow at Singapore’s Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “Saudi Arabia projects itself since the rise of Mohammed bin Salman as this religiously tolerant kingdom that promotes interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance, but the fact of the matter is that they’re not religiously tolerant. It advocates the principle of absolute obedience to the ruler based on a Quranic verse. You’re seeing the dark side of that.”
The non-governmental organization ALQST writes that “the Public Prosecution is calling for sentences of up to five years in prison and fines of up to three million riyals ($800,000), confiscation of the defendants’ phones, and closure of their phone and social media accounts as articulated in Article 6 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, in addition to further harsh punishment at the judge’s discretion.”
In a statement, rights groups have decried the arrest and prosecution of the supporters, calling it “a new assault on the freedom of expression” and highlighting “the appalling discrepancy between the actions of the Saudi authorities and its official narrative of liberalisation.”
Soccer has played a vital part in portraying Saudi Arabia as a country that is modernizing. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has underwritten a transformation of the domestic soccer scene, luring European stars to the Saudi Pro League. Abroad, PIF flexed its muscles by acquiring Premier League club Newcastle United. The Arab Kingdom is also set to land the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup.
“This latest crackdown once again highlights the discrepancy between the authorities’ narrative of liberal reform and the harsh reality on the ground for ordinary Saudi citizens and residents,” says Lina Alhathloul, the head of monitoring and advocacy at ALQST. “While Western fans and sports stars visiting the kingdom may find themselves in a relative bubble, such freedom is not extended to the local population. On the contrary, their free speech is muzzled.”
She adds: “That peaceful fans can be targeted in this way sends a chilling but familiar message- that anyone exercising their right to free expression is fair game, and nobody is safe.”
The Saudi Sports Ministry did not reply to a request for comment.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/samindrakunti/2024/03/27/saudi-soccer-fans-go-on-trial-for-shia-chants/
.