Two South African siblings from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape detained by authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been released.
Two others siblings are still in detention and are also expected to be released soon.
Huda, Waliyullah, Yumna and Waseeyullah who are studying in Madina Saudi Arabia were arrested in November last year after they returned to the kingdom following their Ramadan break in South Africa.
It’s believed the siblings were detained under the security act of the country.
After languishing more than 11 months in the military run maximum security Zhahban prison in Saudi Arabia allegedly without charge, 29-year-old Huda and 27-year-old Waliyullah are expected land at OR Tambo International airport today while 22-Year-old Waseeyullah and 24-Year old Yumna are expected to be also home soon.
Their father Moulana Nazier Desai says it has been a tough 11 months.
“In that 11 months, very strange and very surprising that they admitted that the children were falsely accused, wrongfully arrested, ‘we made a mistake and Insha’Allah all four of you will be released soon.’”
At the same time Ml. Desai says while his children were in detention, the Saudi authorities in Jeddah were also very helpful in assisting with the case.
Ml. Desai has thanked all South Africans for their support.
“I would like to thank all our South Africans, they are courageous, and they are brave and are very strong. At the same I would like to take the opportunity to thank the South African government for their assistance and also we are very grateful to the Saudi Arabian embassy in South Africa for their help and their aid.”
Ml. Desai says he is not aware of any restrictions that might be imposed on the siblings by the Saudi authorities upon their return to South Africa.
[Source: Faizel Patel / Radio Islam]
