On June 25, 2008, the Saudi Interior Ministry reported the arrest of 520 Al-Qaeda operatives who had planned to strike oil facilities and economic centers in eastern Saudi Arabia. According to the report, the leader of the cell, who bore a message from Al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, was among those arrested, as were some 50 webmasters of websites that spread extremist ideas and encourage terrorism.
After the arrests were made public, Saudi papers focused on condemning terrorism and terrorist ideology, through articles and cartoons.
The following are examples of these cartoons:
Saudi Arabia Fights Terrorism
On bird: "Terrorism"
Cartoonist: Muhammad Mas'ud
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), June 28, 2008.
On figure: "Terrorism." On candle: Saudi flag.
Cartoonist: Jihad Awartany
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), June 26, 2008.
"Preemptive strike"
On figure: "Terrorism"
Cartoonist: Yahya Sharifi
'Okaz (Saudi Arabia), July 1, 2008.
On pants leg: "Security personnel"; on fleeing figure: "Terrorist."
Cartoonist: Adel Saead
Al-Nadwah (Saudi Arabia), July 1, 2008.
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The Internet as a Source of Terrorist Propaganda
Cartoonist: Muhammad Mas'ud
Al Watan (Saudi Arabia), June 27, 2008.
"The logic of the terrorist"
Cartoonist: Jihad Awartany
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), July 1, 2008.
Cartoonist: Al-Humaidi
Al-Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), July 4, 2008.
On discs: "Programs for vandalizing"; "programs for hatred"; "programs for bombing and accusing others of apostasy"
Cartoonist: Hajed
Al-Jazirah (Saudi Arabia), July 5, 2008.
"Thousands of websites propagate [the idea of] entering Paradise by accusing others of apostasy and by bombing"
On hook: "Paradise."
Cartoonist: Jihad Awartany
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), July 5, 2008.
On screen: "Blogs of confusion aimed at corrupting minds and making them into idiots"
On right: "Entrance"; on left: "Exit."
Cartoonist: Mohamad Alaza'a
Al-Iqtisadiya (Saudi Arabia), July 3, 2008.
Terrorism is Against the Religion and the Homeland
Sign on left: "Religion"; sign on right: "The Homeland"
Cartoonist: Fahed Kamaesy
Al-Iqtisadiya (Saudi Arabia), June 27, 2008.
Terrorists are Motivated by Hatred
On windup figure: "Terrorist"; on sleeve: "Hatred"
Cartoonist: Adel SaeadAl-Nadwah (Saudi Arabia), June 28, 2008.
Terrorism Damages Muslims' Livelihood
"Terrorism writes a page in its history"
On figure: "Terrorist"; on black page: "No to oil, yes to terrorism; the livelihood of Muslims"
Cartoonist: Muhammad Ahlaza'a
Al-Iqtisadiya (Saudi Arabia), June 30, 2008
