The Siege of Mecca

Understanding The Siege of Mecca

On November 20, 1979, worldwide attention was focused on Tehran, where the Iranian hostage crisis was entering its third week. The same morning—the first of a new Muslim century—hundreds of gunmen stunned the world by seizing Islam’s holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Armed with rifles that they had smuggled inside coffins, these men came from more than a dozen countries, launching the first operation of global jihad in modern times. Led by a Saudi preacher named Juhayman al Uteybi, they believed that the Saudi royal family had become a craven servant of American infidels, and sought a return to the glory of uncompromising Islam. With nearly 100,000 worshippers trapped inside the holy compound, Mecca’s bloody siege lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the United States and causing hundreds of deaths.

Despite U.S. assistance, the Saudi royal family proved haplessly incapable of dislodging the occupier, whose ranks included American converts to Islam. In Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini blamed the Great Satan—the United States —for defiling the shrine, prompting mobs to storm and torch American embassies in Pakistan and Libya. The desperate Saudis finally enlisted the help of French commandos led by tough-as-nails Captain Paul Barril, who prepared the final assault and supplied poison gas that knocked out the insurgents. Though most captured gunmen were quickly beheaded, the Saudi royal family responded to this unprecedented challenge by compromising with the rebels’ supporters among the kingdom’s most senior clerics, helping them nurture and export Juhayman’s violent brand of Islam around the world.

This dramatic and immensely consequential story was barely covered in the press in the pre-CNN, pre–Al Jazeera days, as Saudi Arabia imposed an information blackout and kept foreign correspondents away. Yaroslav Trofimov now penetrates this veil of silence, interviewing for the first time scores of direct participants in the siege, including former terrorists, and drawing on hundreds of documents that had been declassified on his request. Written with the pacing, detail, and suspense of a real-life thriller, The Siege of Mecca reveals how Saudi reaction to the uprising in Mecca set free the forces that produced the attacks of 9/11, and the harrowing circumstances that surround us today.

Historical Context of The Siege

The Siege of Mecca took place in 1979 and was a significant event in Islamic history. It began when a group of armed extremists took control of the Grand Mosque, which is the holiest site in Islam. The siege shocked not only Saudi Arabia but also the entire Muslim world. It led to a brutal confrontation between the Saudi government and the insurgents, setting off a wave of political and social changes that would resonate for decades. The event highlighted the tensions within the Islamic community and the power struggles that were emerging at the time.

The Events of the Siege

During the two-week ordeal, the perpetrators demanded the establishment of an Islamic state and the expulsion of foreign influences from the Arabian Peninsula. As they occupied the mosque, Saudi forces struggled to regain control. However, the siege also revealed flaws in the intelligence capabilities of the Saudi military. After much conflict, special forces were eventually deployed to restore order, but the tragedy resulted in numerous casualties and raised many questions about the security of sacred sites.

The Aftermath and Its Impact

The Siege of Mecca had long-lasting implications for Saudi Arabia and the broader Muslim world. It led to a crackdown on Islamic extremism and increased scrutiny of religious movements. Because of the siege, the Saudi government strengthened its ties with conservative clerics, altering the dynamics of governance in the country. Furthermore, the event influenced global perceptions of Islam and its adherents, leading to wider debates about the role of religion in politics and society.