based governance RIYADH: Six of 11 terror suspects on trial here have protested their innocence related to an attack in Yanbu in May 2004 that left six people dead and 25 injured. The second session of the trial at the Penal Court in Riyadh was open to the media for more than five hours Saturday. The suspects have been charged by the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution with assisting terrorists, Takfeer (deeming other Muslims, like the authorities, of being unbelievers), possession of weapons, and supporting Al-Qaeda by describing the suspects who were killed in the Yanbu attack as martyrs. They denied the charges, including following Al-Qaeda or being connected to terrorist cells. The six suspects – the other five had their hearing postponed – said they support the country's Shariah-based governance. They condemned the terror attacks and said they were victims of the deception of their relative and criminal mastermind, Mustafa. They said they had sympathized with him after he returned to the Kingdom after being away for 10 years. They said their actions were simply trying to help fellow family members. They had no idea that their relatives were involved in criminal activities. They did not suspect the terrorists because three of them had good jobs and did not seem suspicious. They were deceived, they said.
