Otaibi, the wanted terrorist whose return to the Kingdom was announced in an Interior Ministry statement Wednesday, has spoken of his motives for handing himself in to the authorities. After leaving the Kingdom “with the intention of jihad”, Al-Otaibi passed through the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Pakistan, “where members of Al-Qaeda helped us enter Waziristan.” “We went into Afghanistan but found that they didn't need fighters,” Al-Otaibi told Al-Watan daily. “They were strong in numbers… and a lot of the Warlords told us they didn't need Arabs or anyone else.” “We asked members of the organization why they wouldn't let us fight as that's what we had come for, and they said they had a policy of basically hiding and planning to prolong the war as that was what would hurt the Americans most,” Al-Otaibi said. “Despite the numbers heading there only certain groups were allowed to go into battle, selected to film operations for propaganda.” The 36-year-old Al-Otaibi had organized his return to the Kingdom through relatives. One of his brothers told Okaz Thursday that “he didn't find the jihad he had hoped for”. Prior to his return, the last known whereabouts of Al-Otaibi was Iran, according to details released by the Ministry of Interior in February. No official statement has yet been made on his precise date of return to the Kingdom. A security spokesman from the ministry said Al-Otaibi would be treated in line with all procedures in such cases. “His initiative to return home and the role of his family in this respect will be taken into account when his case is considered,” the spokesman said Wednesday, adding that Otaibi was permitted Tuesday to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Makkah.
