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The siege of Mecca : the 1979 uprising at Islam's holiest shrine / Yaroslav Trofimov.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: New York : Anchor Books, 2007.Edition: 1st Anchor Books edDescription: xii, 301 p. : ill., map ; 21 cmISBN:
  • 9780307277732 (pbk.)
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 953.8 22
LOC classification:
  • DS248.M4 T76 2008
Summary: On November 20, 1979, the first morning of a new Muslim century, hundreds of gunmen stunned the world by seizing Islam's holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. These men came from more than a dozen countries, launching the first operation of global jihad in modern times. 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, the bloody siege lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the U.S. and causing hundreds of deaths. The desperate Saudis finally enlisted the help of French commandos, who prepared the final assault. The Saudi royal family ultimately compromised with the rebels' supporters, helping to set free the forces that produced the attacks of 9/11 and the harrowing circumstances that surround us today.--From publisher description.
Item type: Books
Holdings
Current library Collection Call number Vol info Copy number Status Date due Barcode
Judith Thomas Library General Stacks BKS DS 248 .M4 T76 2007 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) AUA000174 1 Available AUA000174
Judith Thomas Library General Stacks BKS DS 248 .M4 T76 2007 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) AUA000175 2 Available AUA000175

Includes bibliographical references (p. [265]-289) and index.

On November 20, 1979, the first morning of a new Muslim century, hundreds of gunmen stunned the world by seizing Islam's holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. These men came from more than a dozen countries, launching the first operation of global jihad in modern times. 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, the bloody siege lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the U.S. and causing hundreds of deaths. The desperate Saudis finally enlisted the help of French commandos, who prepared the final assault. The Saudi royal family ultimately compromised with the rebels' supporters, helping to set free the forces that produced the attacks of 9/11 and the harrowing circumstances that surround us today.--From publisher description.