Winds of Change.NET: Special Analysis: The Al-Ghamdi Family

June 4, 2003

Special Analysis: The Al-Ghamdi Family

by Joe Katzman at June 4, 2003 1:07 PM

Some warbloggers like myself tend to notice certain names that keep popping up in the most unlikely of places when it comes to al-Qaeda operatives. The webmasters over at Rantburg and Alphabet City certainly do. Like a bad penny, the al-Ghamdi name just keeps turning up...

To begin with, there were three al-Ghamdis who took part in the 9/11 attacks.

A Sheikh al-Ghamdi shows up at bin Laden's dinner party in which the al-Qaeda leader gloated over the 9/11 attacks.

Another al-Ghamdi is arrested in a plot to attack US and British warships in the Straits of Gibraltar

The fact that the real name of Khattab's successor Abu Walid, is Abd al-Aziz al-Ghaamidi.
As though that weren't enough to demonstrate the tribe's (al-Ghamdi is a tribal surname) ties to al-Qaeda, consider the following in light of the Riyadh bombings:

As Alphabet City has correctly noted, the mastermind behind the Riyadh bombings is none other than Ali Abdul Rahman al-Ghamdi, who was turned over to Saudi Arabia by Iran but then subsequently released.

A Tora Bora veteran, Ali Abdul Rahman, also known as Ali Abd Rahman al-Faqasi, was initially reported to have been arrested on May 15. Then both the New York Times and the Washington Post reported his arrest on May 28. This would generally be enough to convince most people that he had indeed been detained despite the earlier ambiguity. On June 1, however, Prince Nayef's Interior Ministry (which initially claimed he had been captured on May 15) is describing him as being among those wanted for involvement in the Riyadh bombing. So what exactly is going on in Saudi Arabia?

In any event, it is important to note that at least three of the suspected al-Qaeda operatives who have actually been detained by Saudi authorities also bear the al-Ghamdi surname. What I suspect we're seeing here is that the Saudi al-Qaeda are linked to one another by tight familial or tribal ties and covered for by official collusion, much the same way the Greek November 17 terrorists were. If true, it may explain how the network is able to operate so securely there.

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Tracked: January 3, 2005 6:25 PM

THE MURDEROUS Al-GHAMDI FAMILY from Michelle Malkin

Excerpt: An Arab newspaper reveals that the mess tent suicide bomber was a Saudi medical student. His name? Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat identified him as 20-year-old Ahmed Said Ahmed al-Ghamdi, citing friends of the man�s father. The friends said members of an...

Comments

#1 from a.s. alghamdi at 1:31 am on Jul 08, 2003

hi..................
if you want to know more about alghamdi family
please contact me by e-mail
or call me on 0096656778475
Abdullah Alghamdi

#2 from Joe Katzman at 4:38 am on Jul 08, 2003

Not sure what to think of this one. Dan?

#3 from Adel Alghamdi at 12:54 pm on Jul 19, 2003

I disagree...tribal ties have nothing to do with allowing the network to operate so securely. It only means that more Al-Ghamdi's are willing to be part of the network and participate in its activities. Al-Qaeda operates so securely because it is divided into small groups where each group is isolated from the others.

Tribal ties mean nothing to someone who gives up his life to be part of Al-Qaeda. Protecting and securing the network has nothing to do with how many Al-Ghamdi's in the network.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CAUSE NOT TRIBAL TIES.

#4 from Joe Katzman at 2:24 pm on Jul 19, 2003

That's an interesting and valuable perspective. Thanks.

#5 from Diana at 7:07 am on Jul 30, 2003

I also noted the Al Ghamdi name kept popping up. It may be of interest to you that the state department listed for the years 1994-95 an Al Ghamdi in it's archived site for diplomatic attaches to the United States.
I find it hard to believe much of anything the saudi pr machine says.

#6 from Robert Stevens at 2:12 pm on Nov 28, 2003

Ditto on the "valuable perspective" Adel.

#7 from Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi at 11:38 pm on Oct 17, 2004

The simple answer, is that we are good and faithful and well-bred large tribe of more than 500,000 (Ghamdis). Obviously, you can not judge a a small family of few member, let a lone tribe like this, by some or handful freak ones. The problem, with the american people is that they seem to know little about other states in their contry, nevermind, the world or other culture. Any american is wellcome to visit saudi arabia to know more about anything. or email me on this address: gamdiama@ksu.edu.sa

Thanks.

#8 from big johnson at 3:53 pm on Jan 03, 2005

I wonder how many Johnsons have been convicted of a violent crime in the last 3 years, and how many johnsons are related to johnsons that have committed a violent crime in the last 3 years.

It's just that I noticed that name johnson appearing quite often, and am curious if there is any link between the family and violent crime

#9 from Spike at 8:08 pm on Jan 03, 2005

Actaully look at how many mass murderers have the name "wayne" as their middle name. Maybe there's alot of Al Ghamdi's but, if they go by anything like "abdul wayne al ghamdi" you probably should hit the road.

#10 from Terp Mole at 9:20 pm on Jan 03, 2005

Once upon a time, Ali Mughram al-Ghamdi inspired Khomeini's infamous death sentence on Salman Rushdie...

New York Times
March 5, 1989, Sunday
Fallout Over Rushdie; The Muslim Presence In Western Europe Is Suddenly Starker

It was in London that the first Muslim protest to the book was registered, when Ali Mughram al-Ghamdi, the Saudi head of a local mosque, wrote to Mr. Rushdie's publisher, the Penguin publishing house, on Oct. 12, complaining that ''The Satanic Verses'' had insulted Muslims. And it was in Bradford, on Jan. 14, that the first ritual burnings of the book took place. Only a month later did Ayatollah Khomeini call for the novelist's murder, after anti-Rushdie demonstrations broke out in Pakistan.

... naturally, as a "moderate UK Muslim", Dr Ghamdi led protests in London where he "refused to condemn the call to kill Mr Rushdie"...

The Independent
January 9 1990
Muslims in vigil outside Rushdie publishers

MODERATE British Muslims yesterday began a five-day vigil outside the headquarters of Viking Penguin, publishers of Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses.

Each day 12 demonstrators - the maximum police have permitted - will keep watch outside the Penguin offices in Kensington, west London. They will also distribute leaflets calling for the book's withdrawal and for government action to extend the blasphemy laws to cover religions other than Christianity.

Yesterday Muslims from Bradford, where Mr Rushdie's book was first burnt publicly a year ago, kept vigil. Liaquat Hussain, their spokesman, said: 'We want to show Penguin our determination. We have a just cause and until we achieve it we will continue our campaign.'

Around him his green-jacketed colleagues displayed banners reading 'God rules OK' and 'No Rushdie porn, no Page 3 porn'.

Dr Ali Mugharam Ghamdi, chairman of the United Kingdom Action Committee for Islamic Affairs, which organised the vigil, said that it was intended to demonstrate 'a genuine and permanent bitterness in the hearts and minds of ordinary Muslims'.

He emphasised that the vigil, like all action taken by groups represented by his committee, would remain within the bounds of the law. But Dr Ghamdi refused to condemn the call to kill Mr Rushdie, saying only that his committee would not condone acts that broke British law.

#11 from Robert Stevens at 11:58 pm on Jan 03, 2005

The important thing regarding the al-Ghamdi clan and it's ties to al Qaida is where the al Ghamdi's ancestral home is: The Bahah and Asir Provinces. Both close to the bin Laden ancestral home in Yemen. Asir borders it.

In fact, at least nine of the 9-11 hijackers are from those two Saudi provinces.*:

AA Flight 11 - North Tower, WTC

Mohamed Atta (pilot) - Egypt
Satam M.A. Al Suqami - Najd Province SA or UAE?
Waleed M. Alshehri - Khamis Mushayt, Asir, SA (Abha cluster)
Wail M. Alshehri - Khamis Mushayt, Asir, SA (Abha cluster)
Abdulaziz Alomari - identity theft?

UA Flight 175 - South Tower, WTC

Marwan Al-Shehhi (pilot) - UAE
Fayez Rashid Ahmed Hassan Al Qadi Banihammad - Asir, SA
*Ahmed Alghamdi - Beljurashi, Bahah, SA
*Hamza Alghamdi - Beljurashi, Bahah, SA
Mohand Alshehri - identity theft?

AA Flight 77 - Pentagon

Hani Hanjour (pilot) - Taif, Bahah, SA
Khalid Almihdhar - Mecca, Hijaz, SA
Majed Moqed - Medina, SA
Nawaf Alhazmi - Mecca, Hijaz, SA
Salem Alhazmi - Mecca, Hijaz, SA

AA Flight 93 - Shanksville Pennsylvania

Ziad Samir Jarrah (pilot) - Lebanon
*Saeed Alghamdi - Abha, Asir, SA (Abha cluster)
Ahmed Alhaznawi Alghamdi - Hezna, Bahah, SA
Ahmed Alnami - Abha, Asir, SA (Abha cluster)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alphacity/message/641

It should be noted that the Saudi who broke the story that 15 of the hijackers were from the kingdom was Qenan alGhamdi, then chief editor at al Watan which is headquartered in Abha, the capital of the Asir province.

He was fired by the the al Saud shortly thereafter.

*compiled by Robert Stevens

#12 from Robert Stevens at 12:13 am on Jan 04, 2005

More...

the Kandahar guest house in which UBL was videotaped describing the 9-11 attacks is the same Kandahar guest house where the 'pilots' of the 9-11 attacks and other key players met in 1999 to finalize the plot.

The name of the house?

Al-Ghumad House.

Al-Ghumad as in al-Ghamdi.

#13 from Robert Stevens at 12:38 am on Jan 04, 2005

Shocka...

From Ali al-Ahmed of the Saudi Institute in DC

"The Saudi Institute has also learned that Al-Ghamdi is the eldest son of Saudi diplomat Saeed Al-Ghamdi, the former head of Saudi diplomatic mission to Sudan prior to his return to Riyadh."

And a correction: The shaykh who appeared on the video with UBL describing the 9-11 attack is not a Shaykh alGhamdi but rather Khaled bin Ouda bin Mohammed al-Harbi.

Robert Spencer has more.

And Ali Ahmed has the transcript:

Saudi Institute Releases Transcript of Bin Laden’s ”Smoking gun” Video Tape.

#14 from Robert Stevens at 1:03 am on Jan 04, 2005

Saudi Institute piece above refers to Mosul bomber.

Explanation...

It is not usually noted, but Ahmed Alhaznawi's (AA Flight 93 - Shanksville Pennsylvania) ancestral family is an offshoot of the alGhamdi clan. That would make 4 alGhamdi hijackers, not 3.

#15 from Dan Darling at 1:35 am on Jan 04, 2005

Thanks Robert.

I probably need to update this given all the traffic it's gotten, but yeah I knew that al-Harbi and not al-Ghamdi was the sheikh who met with bin Laden in his "caught on tape" video.

#16 from Robert Stevens at 1:58 am on Jan 04, 2005

Hey Dan, I knew you knew. Should have included that.

What's the inside scoop on the bombings in SA last week? Was Interior Minister Nayef's son, deputy Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdelaziz, really the target of an assassination attempt by al-Qaida's Saudi arm as Debka reports?

Interestingly, if you recall, Ali Abd Rahman alFaqasi alGhamdi surrendered to deputy minister Nayef at Nayef's home in Riyadh last year.

#17 from Robert Stevens at 2:05 am on Jan 04, 2005

Dan, you dropped a bomb over at Rantburg...

Ahmed Said Ahmed al-Ghamdi, the Saudi mess tent bomber was a "member of the Iraqi national guard for like 4 months."

Whoa!

#18 from Ibn Assaf at 5:57 pm on Feb 14, 2005

For more information on Ghamid tribe, please visit the linke provided.

www.ghamid.net

www.ghamid.net/vb

Any clarifications required, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you.

#19 from Zaman Al-Samt at 10:27 am on Feb 16, 2005

i really like it.

#20 from Ibrahim Al Ghamdi at 8:14 am on Feb 21, 2005

To Ali alghamdi:

I hope you read this email to the end �maybe you will figure out things u didn�t know it before..(although you are in the education field!!!! )

Those ppl were never (handful freak ones)as you mentioned in your answer�.they are simply ppl who were born free�.living free�and will die free�they are not afraid to say no to anybody �and live like a slave to united states and Israel..

You call these ppl handful freak ones�.so what is the proper name of those who caused all these massacres in Vietnam, destroying whole nation (the red indian), killing innocent children and old ppl in Iraq and Aafganistan.. who would take the responsibly of more than 2 million iraqi child died in the last 8 years coz of the surrender to get (Sadam) doing all their best in a perfect way president after president to support Israel with all means�. Even using Vito more than 30 times protecting Israel from doing united nation decisions allowing that freak country to continue killing and all innocent ppl whom just want to live in peace in their land �. and more and more�..which i guess you know it �.!!

And we are guessing at the end why do those bombing killing them selves and others.. what a joke..

And am wondering after all these�we shy just to raise our voices and say to them No�not just that��.we are afraid to support those who say no loudly�.and say that they are (handfull freak ppl)�.why is that�..??!!is it just because we don�t have powerful army like USA and Israel or even Russia to do it organized as they do it because we have coward governments�..and the nation are raising themselves by their own�??!! Just i want you to go back to the news for one day�..not CNN and BBC�but the real news�..where u can see clearly what the US army and Israel are committing �.

And just to notify you all free ppl�.not just Ghamdies ..not just Arab�not just Muslims are against these crimes which are caused by these (2 great countries!!) am not with killing innocent ppl�.but am against U.S and Israel and every country attack us as Muslims in every where in this world like Russia, India Thailand, Philippines.. ETC

If you want to give a good image about Ghamdies so at least say it in the right way�..and if you cant �let it to the ppl who can do it in the right way�instead of saying (some or handful freak ppl)

Last thing.. I challenge you and every body reading this .. Giving me just one Ghamdi name (get involved in bombing) in Muslims countries hurting his brothers in Islam
At the end..

I am so proud to be Ghamdi and if I have the real chance to do the same thing which our heroes are doing�I will do

Ibrahim Al Ghamdi

#21 from Ibrahim Al Ghamdi at 8:17 am on Feb 21, 2005

TO ALL SCPICLLY ALI AL GHAMDI
I hope you read this email to the end �maybe you will figure out things u didn�t know it before..(although you are in the education field!!!! )

And we are guessing at the end why do those bombing killing them selves and others.. what a joke..

Last thing.. I challenge you and every body reading this .. Giving me just one Ghamdi name (get involved in bombing) in Muslims countries hurting his brothers in Islam
At the end..

I am so proud to be Ghamdi and if I have the real chance to do the same thing which our heroes are doing�I will do

Ibrahim Al Ghamdi

#22 from Ibrahim Al Ghamdi at 8:18 am on Feb 21, 2005

TO ALL SCPICLLY ALI AL GHAMDI
I hope you read this email to the end �maybe you will figure out things u didn�t know it before..(although you are in the education field!!!! )

And we are guessing at the end why do those bombing killing them selves and others.. what a joke..

Last thing.. I challenge you and every body reading this .. Giving me just one Ghamdi name (get involved in bombing) in Muslims countries hurting his brothers in Islam
At the end..

I am so proud to be Ghamdi and if I have the real chance to do the same thing which our heroes are doing�I will do

Ibrahim Al Ghamdi

#23 from Ibrahim ben Abdullah Al Ghamdi at 8:26 am on Feb 21, 2005

TO ALL SCPICLLY ALI AL GHAMDI
I hope you read this to the end �maybe you will figure out things u didn�t know it before..(although you are in the education field!!!! )

You call these ppl handful freak ones�.so what is the proper name of those who caused all these massacres in Vietnam, destroying whole nation (the red indian), killing innocent children and old ppl in Iraq and Aafganistan.. who would take the responsibly of more than 2 million iraqi child died in the last 8 years coz of the surrender to get (Sadam) what about doing all their best in a perfect way president after president to support Israel with all means�. Even using Vito more than 30 times protecting Israel from doing united nation decisions allowing that freak country to continue killing and all innocent ppl whom just want to live in peace in their land �And more and more�..which i guess you know it !!

And we are guessing at the end why do those bombing killing them selves and others.. what a joke.. !!

Last thing.. I challenge you and every body reading this .. Giving me just one Ghamdi name (get involved in bombing) in Muslims countries hurting his brothers in Islam
At the end..

I am so proud to be Ghamdi and if I have the real chance to do the same thing which our heroes are doing�I will do

Ibrahim ben Abdullah Al Ghamdi

#24 from Ibrahim ben Abdullah Al Ghamdi at 8:28 am on Feb 21, 2005

TO ALL SCPICLLY ALI AL GHAMDI
I hope you read this to the end �maybe you will figure out things u didn�t know it before..(although you are in the education field!!!! )

You call these ppl handful freak ones�.so what is the proper name of those who caused all these massacres in Vietnam, destroying whole nation (the red indian), killing innocent children and old ppl in Iraq and Aafganistan.. who would take the responsibly of more than 2 million iraqi child died from sickness and hunger �what about doing all their best in a perfect way president after president to support Israel with all means�. Even using Vito more than 30 times protecting Israel from doing united nation decisions allowing that freak country to continue killing and all innocent ppl whom just want to live in peace in their land �And more and more�..which i guess you know it !!

And we are guessing at the end why do those bombing killing them selves and others.. what a joke.. !!

Last thing.. I challenge you and every body reading this .. Giving me just one Ghamdi name (get involved in bombing) in Muslims countries hurting his brothers in Islam
At the end..

I am so proud to be Ghamdi and if I have the real chance to do the same thing which our heroes are doing�I will do

Ibrahim Al Ghamdi

#25 from Ibrahim Al Ghamdi at 8:29 am on Feb 21, 2005

TO ALL SCPICLLY ALI AL GHAMDI
I hope you read this to the end �maybe you will figure out things u didn�t know it before..(although you are in the education field!!!! )

You call these ppl handful freak ones�.so what is the proper name of those who caused all these massacres in Vietnam, destroying whole nation (the red indian), killing innocent children and old ppl in Iraq and Aafganistan.. who would take the responsibly of more than 2 million iraqi child died from sickness and hunger �what about doing all their best in a perfect way president after president to support Israel with all means�. Even using Vito more than 30 times protecting Israel from doing united nation decisions allowing that freak country to continue killing and all innocent ppl whom just want to live in peace in their land �And more and more�..which i guess you know it !!

And we are guessing at the end why do those bombing killing them selves and others.. what a joke.. !!

#26 from Joe Katzman at 8:35 am on Feb 21, 2005

Note... the IP address of the commenter looking for an opportunity to become a terrorist is 198.36.32.9. A RIPE WhoIs query locates this IP address, and it is well within the domain space owned by the Saudi Aramco Oil Company.

It is thus highly probable that our poster is in fact an employee of that company.

#27 from Dan Darling at 9:12 am on Feb 21, 2005

Well, this is certainly a first for WoC - a self-declared Saudi al-Qaeda supporter. Thanks for the IP info, Joe.

#28 from Ibrahim Al Ghamdi at 9:28 am on Feb 21, 2005

TO ALL SCPICLLY ALI AL GHAMDI
I hope you read this to the end �maybe you will figure out things u didn�t know it before..(although you are in the education field!!!! )

You call these ppl handful freak ones�.so what is the proper name of those who caused all these massacres in Vietnam, destroying whole nation (the red indian), killing innocent children and old ppl in Iraq and Aafganistan.. who would take the responsibly of more than 2 million iraqi child died from sickness and hunger �what about doing all their best in a perfect way president after president to support Israel with all means�. Even using Vito more than 30 times protecting Israel from doing united nation decisions allowing that freak country to continue killing and all innocent ppl whom just want to live in peace in their land �And more and more�..which i guess you know it !!

And we are guessing at the end why do those bombing killing them selves and others.. what a joke.. !!

#29 from Ibrahim Al Ghamdi at 9:29 am on Feb 21, 2005

...And just to notify you all free ppl�.not just Ghamdies ..not just Arab�not just Muslims are against these crimes which are caused by these (2 great countries!!) am not with killing innocent ppl�.but am against U.S and Israel and every country attack us as Muslims in every where in this world like Russia, India Thailand, Philippines.. ETC

Last thing.. I challenge you and every body reading this .. Giving me just one Ghamdi name (get involved in bombing) in Muslims countries hurting his brothers in Islam
At the end..

I am so proud to be Ghamdi and if I have the real chance to do the same thing which our heroes are doing�I will do

Ibrahim Al Ghamdi

#30 from Robin Burk at 12:22 pm on Feb 21, 2005

Any american is wellcome to visit saudi arabia to know more about anything.

Including Jews and feminists?

You have a right to exclude anyone you choose, but we have a right to note the fact that you do.

I personally do not condemn 500,000 Ghamdis for the actions of a part of your tribe. But I also think it is, frankly, ridiculous to deny that a portion of your tribe has organized to commit atrocities.

I'm not impressed with your statement that they didn't kill any Muslims. In my mind, non-Muslims count just as much.

Nor am I impressed with your statement that your tribes live free rather than like slaves, to the US and Israel (Israel???) or to others. I've had some association with business done in the kingdom. I have some familiarity with a number of countries and cultures. The kingdom in which you live does not strike me as one of the more free places in the world.

#31 from Saeed Thiyab Alghamdi at 7:17 am on Feb 22, 2005

Would you please stop this unrealistic selly subject. This is very irritating issue. Let's focus on how to make the universe a better place for life.

#32 from Queen Isabella at 9:12 pm on Jun 09, 2005

To Ibrahim al-Ghamdi and his fellow tribesmen:

The day is coming when your tribe will be wiped from the planet. Think about what has happened since your tribe perpetrated 9/11.

Our military and the Brits are now in Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Afghanistan, UAE and Qatar. Guess what? You're surrounded.

This whole war on terror is ultimately about destroying the Saudis and the al-Ghamdi tribe. I expect it in about three years. Once Iraq is stabilized and oil production returns to normal and once the Trans-Caspian oil pipeline is online, the Saudis ability to control oil prices through OPEC will be gone. Then we will turn on you.

We will send the U.S. military on a march south from Iraq that will make Sherman's march to the sea look like a peace march. It will not be an invasion of occupation; it will be complete destruction.

I can't wait.

#33 from Ali Al ghamdi at 11:03 pm on Jul 15, 2005

to all
why Alghamdi name is Famous,like ghost,. whooooooa, more than 1,000,000 ...you afread from people not from the creater God..cowls...
it's witten at the old history,that at the end of this life/earth all people will hope to be from that alGhamdi tribe, because it's famous...more than 1400 years,before islam this name was known will and after islam known more, and now more...
but don't forget that God reluoges has soldjers..that's it ..God soldjers in the earth..but for peace not for destroying or killing like Israel/Usa...but when war arrived to us we will be the fire to defend our country.
and for Queen Isabella i said, your country Israel will be disapper any minute..every thing will happend is written in the holy book Quran, mean time you forgot the God..who created every things in this life..the decission in his hand not you..God..don't forget it God...who created every things...The God..not you...who are you...nothing.
we have many criminal american..what's that mean all american are crimanals..you have wrong thought..but from where you get it..the wrong idea..from Israel..
Israel who destroyed the intel comme center with Cia..that's it.

#34 from Ali Al Ghamdi at 11:21 pm on Jul 15, 2005

www.whatreallyhappened.com/hijackers.html

God bless Ghamdi's

#35 from Ali Alghamdi at 10:25 pm on Jul 21, 2005

i'm sorry for this word,i didn't mean it. ( why Alghamdi name is Famous,like ghost,. whooooooa, more than 1,000,000 ...you afread from people not from the creater God..cowls...)

#36 from Robert Stevens at 8:47 am on Sep 14, 2005

Hey Ibrahim, the only reason Usama became a hero in Saudi Arabi is because the US financed the holy war against the Soviets. Without us your vaunted mujahideen would have been wiped out. UBL, Azzam, Zawahiri and Abdel-Rahman would have had their asses handed to them.

So all you mujahids can go screw yourselves. You're welcome very much.

As for the Ghamid clan, it was actually a Ghamdi, Qinan Ghamdi -- editor of Abha's al-Watan, who first reported that the majority of hijackers were Saudis from cells formed in Baha and Asir. So, yes, we know not all of the tribe are neo-Wahhabi Salafists.

And, because I can't resist, you are aware -- are you not -- that none of the 9-11 pilots were Saudis. They were just dumb hicks who could slit throats but not fly planes.

Regards,
RS

#37 from Eng. Kamal Al-Ghamdi at 12:31 am on Feb 05, 2006

Hi,

In the name of Allah we start..

All of the religions we accept but not the ones who fight us.

I studied in King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals as so as many of Saudis and specially Ghamdis. At that time, in the early 90's, I learned English with help from my Americans, British and Canadian teachers. Some of them were Jewish. So, as an answer to your question, yes we are accepting Jewish as they are not Israel.

Also, for the women we think that nothing gave full rights to women like Islam. Visit the following link to know more about the rights of women in Islam: http://www.islamfortoday.com/womensrightsbadawi.htm

With best wishes,

Eng. Kamal Al-Ghamdi
http://www.e-ghamdi.com/

#38 from ahmed alghamdi at 9:53 am on Feb 22, 2006

I would like to met usa presdent G.W Bush and i will giv him mor informtion about ghamdi pepole
Do you now ghamdi is not famlay ghamdi is treep and more 3000,000
Moust ghamdi work at busness or thay have highi rank in the aduction like engerening or dector

#39 from Khalid Al-Ghamdi at 5:29 pm on Mar 08, 2006

Hi everyone,

My take on this is the Ghamdi tribe (not family), which is estimated to be somewhere around a million individuals, has been around for a long time. It is a FACT that some of them were companions of the prophit. They even go back to the pre-Islamic era. Their history is well known largely because they haven't changed their name, unlike many other tribes. As such, considering their proportion to the total number of Saudi's, one out of every sixteen, they might seem to be popping up everywhere. The fact of the matter is that Jihad is part of many many Saudi families, especially at the the time of the Russian envasion of Afghanistan. Many Saudis went there from all tribes.

Second point, I don't think Jihad is wrong or fighting the aggressers should be condemned, be it the US, Israel, or anybody else. Just put yourself in our shoes, what would you do?

Third, many Westerners are just plain ignorant. They don't know anything about our history, our sttrugles, our governments, and most importantly our religious convictions.

#40 from Robert Stevens at 8:43 am on Jun 17, 2006

For the citizens of Saudi Arabia.

Allah alone is real. The world is unreal. Allah is the world.

Monotheism is the inbreath and Polytheism is the outbreath. In the space between the two breaths, the smallest house of time, monotheism and polytheism meet. What have you then?

The path is neither up nor down, nor forward nor backward, nor this way nor that.

Grab hold of your mind, place it on the faculty of attention, then place that on the space between the breaths.

What unfolds will astound you.

And if, along the way, you happen upon Muhammad, slay him.

As for America and the Christians, Israel and the Jews, and Saudi Arabia and the Muslims...let them argue amongst themselves and with each other. But, the truth is, of the three, only in Saudi Arabia could such knowledge, as the commenter has revealed, guarantee him the the death penalty if proclaimed publicly.

Finally, and this may seem unrelated, but it is a clue to where some of the commenter's knowledge was gathered: There is something to be said for eating one's dinner out of a skull in a cremation ground.

#41 from Hussein Alghamdi at 5:00 pm on Nov 29, 2006

It's a very misleading analysis.

Saudi Arabian population is made up of big tribes .. please understand the difference between a tribe/clan and a family .. When we say Al Ghamdi family, it's not like saying "the Jones family". Al Ghamdi is a tribe and made up of many big families. I can walk in the street and meet 10 or 20 Ghamdis, but none of them would be a relative of mine, they would be complete strangers to me.

I don't have official numbers, but I would estimate at least 700,000 Ghamdis in Saudi Arabia. In fact, the family roots back to more than 1400years ago. Some of the companions of Prophet Mohammed PBUH were actually Ghamdis!

So, if you take a random sample of Saudi people, you'll most likely get some Ghamdis. If you take a sample of Saudi terrorists, you must also get some Ghamdis in the sample. This was the case with the 911 terrorists.

Now, why don't we have the same issue for other Saudi tribes? Why don't we have as many for example: Otaibi, or Mtairi terrorists as Ghamdis?

many Ghamdis like me will prefer to use the tribe name as surname, other tribes will only use the direct family name, not the tribe name.

Ghamdis and south Arab peninsula people are known for their strong belief in Allah. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in the 1980's, some Saudi youth (especially from the more religious families/tribes) volunteered to go and defend their brothers in Afghanistan against the Communists. So, I would say, if you were in Afghanistan during the Soviet invation, you'd see a good percentage of the Saudi volunteers are indeed Ghamdis + other tribes from south Saudi Arabia. Whether they were in Afghanistan at that time for good or bad reason is a subject of debate, but personally I believe they were there for good and noble reason which is to DEFEND what they consider to be Islam Land from the enemy INVASION. Now, when Osama Bin Laden emerged in Afghanistan, he had many Saudi supporters inside Afghanistan. And when he formed Al Qaida, many of his recruits were Saudis with more-than-average concentraction of Ghamdis. It's normal rules of statistics!

Hussein Alghamdi
Jeddah - Saudi Arabia

#42 from abdulaziz alharthi at 6:06 pm on Dec 25, 2006

#43 from abdulaziz alharthi at 6:27 pm on Dec 25, 2006

It is irrational to attach terrorism to a particular race, nation, religion or culture let alone a tribe .Likewise it is hilarious if not pathetic to hear such baseless allegations that Ghamid as a Saudi tribe is involved in orchestrating 9/11 plot. This verbal diarrhea has more holes than a Swiss cheese.
First of all Ghamid is a major Saudi tribe with a population that could amount to 1000,000, obviously with such size it is not a clan or a family as its been posted. Statistically, 3 of the 19 alleged perpetrators who took part in 9/11 are Ghamedis, this ratio is quite representative of a country whose population is 16,000,000 in which Ghamid represent 1/16.
I do feel sorry for some comments on both sides, they are bigotted, dangerous, ignorant and only howl deep rotted antagonism, and definitely invalid for drawing conclusions.
Being a Saudi I think what I know about my fellow citizens would be more plausible than someone driven by malicious motives from Brookline area to Hollywood or even Harlem Street.
Historically speaking, Saudi soil has never been a ground for breeding terrorism and I challenge anyone to prove otherwise. Over decades exodus of influxes of Saudi students had enrolled to American schools �. Never ever involve themselves in terrorist or security threatening schemes on the American soil. All including me are spin off of decades long saudi educational system. The alleged perpetrators were outgrowths of the American-soviet conflict in Afghanistan in the 80s.

#44 from m at 2:11 pm on Jun 21, 2007

hello. i am from Terre Haute Indiana and i am looking for a friend of mine from Saudi Arabia. I am not sure exactly what part of Saudi Arabia he is from but i can tell you some things i do know without giving out to much personal info on him. i met him in Terre Haute in April of 1990. He had just transferred from a college near boston Mass to ivy tech state college in Terre Haute Indiana. i know he graduated from ivy tech in may of 1993 and left for Saudi Arabia shortly there after. while in indiana he lived in an apartment complex called international village and his cousin Nasser lived there also. i know one of his best friends names was Mazen B he also had friends named Oddah & Abdul Alshrehe. While he was here his wife had a baby boy that they named Mazen and he would be 13 or 14 now. my friend that i am looking for name is Ali Saeed Alghamdi and he would probably be in his 40s or early 50s by now. i really miss my friend and would like to get in contact with him so if any of you have info on how i could get ahold of him please email me at terrehauteproud@aol.com thank you M any help would be greatly appreciated!

#45 from Abdulla Alghamdi at 5:23 pm on Sep 19, 2007

To Queen Isabella,
I should admit it you are very good in making things up
If you still alive there is a movie about Saudi Arabia
this October don't miss it

#46 from Ali Alghamdi at 1:33 pm on Sep 23, 2007

Actually Alghamdi tribe is not a small family that to say all of them followers of al Qaeda is that is totally wrong idea big mistake to include in that notion. In the world there is so many crimes done but there was no particular allegation to them randomly. Could we say Gorge w. families all of terrorist that foolishness to target those who don't have any involvement in that phenomena. So we have verify before indicate to that person any criminal subject to the innocent people.

#47 from Khalid at 10:10 pm on Jan 26, 2008

Are all the al ghamidis related to each other some way because when i went saudi arabia this summer there was quite a lot of people with the same surname "al Ghamidi". Can any saudi answer me

#48 from Al Ghamdi at 2:59 pm on Mar 26, 2008

[Drive-by. Conspiracy cr*p deleted. Thread closed. And God bless you! --NM]