Arab Socialist Action Party (Saudi Arabia)
Encyclopedia
The Arab Socialist Action Party – Arabian Peninsula ( Ḥizb al`Amal al Ishtirākiy al-`Arabiy-Al-Jazīra al`Arabiyyah), was an underground oppositional political party
in Saudi Arabia
. It was founded in 1972 by elements of the erstwhile Arab Nationalist Movement
.
opposition. Ideologically it adhered to Marxism
and Arab nationalism
. It considered armed struggle as the only option to overthrow the ruling system of Saudi Arabia. The membership was predominantly Shi'ite.
The party was able to attract former members from the People's Democratic Party, which ceased to function in the mid-1970s.
The party raised three main demands, introduction of political liberties, nationalization of oil resources, and the end to foreign military presence in Saudi Arabia. It also opposed discrimination against Shi'ites.
, a Pan-Arab party led by the PFLP general secretary Dr. George Habash
. But unlike other sections of the Arab Socialist Action Party, the linkage to PFLP was weaker due to the lack of a strong PFLP presence in Saudi Arabia. By 1975, the linkage between the Saudi party and PFLP began to decline and in 1978 the Saudi party broke its affiliation with PFLP. Instead the party began orientating itself towards cooperation with other groups in the region. In 1981, the party established relations with the Communist Party in Saudi Arabia
and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Bahrain
in exile.
in Mecca
on November 20, 1979, the party issued a statement in Beirut
, clarifying the demands of the insurgents. The party, however, denied any involvement in the act.
By 1987 there were reports that the party had begun to reconstruct its organizational structure.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. It was founded in 1972 by elements of the erstwhile Arab Nationalist Movement
Arab Nationalist Movement
The Arab Nationalist Movement , also known as the Movement of Arab Nationalists and the Harakiyyin, was a pan-Arab nationalist organization influential in much of the Arab world, most famously so within the Palestinian movement.-Origins & Ideology:The Arab Nationalist Movement had its origins in a...
.
Profile of the party
The party was able to attract a following amongst intellectuals and middle class elements, and became a prominent force of the secularSecularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
opposition. Ideologically it adhered to Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and Arab nationalism
Arab nationalism
Arab nationalism is a nationalist ideology celebrating the glories of Arab civilization, the language and literature of the Arabs, calling for rejuvenation and political union in the Arab world...
. It considered armed struggle as the only option to overthrow the ruling system of Saudi Arabia. The membership was predominantly Shi'ite.
The party was able to attract former members from the People's Democratic Party, which ceased to function in the mid-1970s.
The party raised three main demands, introduction of political liberties, nationalization of oil resources, and the end to foreign military presence in Saudi Arabia. It also opposed discrimination against Shi'ites.
Press
The party published al-Masira as its central organ. It was printed inside Saudi Arabia clandestinely on an irregular basis. Moreover, until the 1982 crackdown, the cadres of the party were well represented amongst the staff of the legal newspaper al-Yaum (اليوم).Relations with PFLP
The party was a section of the Arab Socialist Action PartyArab Socialist Action Party
Arab Socialist Action Party was a Pan-Arab political party, formed by the rightwing faction of the Arab Nationalist Movement. The general secretary of the party was Dr. George Habash...
, a Pan-Arab party led by the PFLP general secretary Dr. George Habash
George Habash
George Habash also known by his laqab "al-Hakim" was a Palestinian nationalist. Habash, a Palestinian Christian, founded the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which pioneered the hijacking of airplanes as a Middle East militant tactic...
. But unlike other sections of the Arab Socialist Action Party, the linkage to PFLP was weaker due to the lack of a strong PFLP presence in Saudi Arabia. By 1975, the linkage between the Saudi party and PFLP began to decline and in 1978 the Saudi party broke its affiliation with PFLP. Instead the party began orientating itself towards cooperation with other groups in the region. In 1981, the party established relations with the Communist Party in Saudi Arabia
Communist Party in Saudi Arabia
The Communist Party in Saudi Arabia was a political party in Saudi Arabia. The CPSA was formed on August 31, 1975. It had its origins in the National Renewal Front which was founded on September 23, 1954 and transformed in the National Liberation Front on October 17, 1958. The NLF was part of the...
and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Bahrain
Popular Front for the Liberation of Bahrain
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Bahrain was an underground political party in Bahrain with origins in the Arab Nationalist Movement. Its members were inclined towards the leftist Marxist trend within the ANM...
in exile.
Mecca Siege of 1979
Five days after Islamic insurgents had seized the Grand MosqueGrand Mosque Seizure
The Grand Mosque Seizure on November 20, 1979, was an armed attack and takeover by Islamist dissidents of the Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest place in Islam...
in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
on November 20, 1979, the party issued a statement in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, clarifying the demands of the insurgents. The party, however, denied any involvement in the act.
1982 crackdown
In April 1982 the party was dealt a severe blow, as Saudi state forces arrested hundreds of its members. Many of the arrested were journalists connected to the al-Yaum newspaper. In the end of 1982 an amnesty was declared for the arrested. However, several of the released had problems returning to government services or were denied travel abroad. Al-Yaum was closed down. Following the 1982 crackdown, the party critically reviewed its past performance. In January 1984 a provisional leadership was reconstituted.By 1987 there were reports that the party had begun to reconstruct its organizational structure.