JNN Oct. 31st 2011:A Canadian imam who was beaten, arrested and falsely charged while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has been freed following media coverage of his ordeal and pressure from a human rights group.
Usama Al-Atar, 33, of Edmonton, was released today following publicity about the incident, which took place Sunday in Medina, said Mohamed Hayward, who witnessed the attack.
Al-Atar, a researcher at the University of Alberta, was leading a small prayer group that included Hayward when they were asked to move along by Saudi religious police.
Between 10 and 15 of the officers then harassed the pilgrims and attacked Al-Atar before taking him into custody, Hayward said. Al-Atar was being “virtually strangled” by his assailants, he added.
Hayward said he didn’t try to resist the roughing up and remained passive, but authorities still went on to arrest him.
But when he was expected to make a court appearance today, Al-Atar was abruptly released instead.
Al-Atar has an elderly father, a pregnant wife and a three year-old-child in Canada. Hayward said he did not know details of his release or what conditions were imposed on him, but said he appears to be no worse for wear.
“He is pretty tired, a bit dishevelled,” Hayward said. “He could do with a good rest. I think he’d love to speak with his wife and kids as well. Otherwise he seems to be OK.”
Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs also made diplomats in Saudi Arabia aware of the arrest and offered consular assistance if necessary.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission also picked up on Al-Atar’s case and issued a statement Sunday calling for his immediate release. There was also a Facebook page set up on his behalf.
Hayward said he’s certain Canadian media reports of the incident and the work of the U.K.-based Islamic Human Rights Commission helped secure Al-Atar’s freedom.
“He could have been lingering in prison for God knows how long; with charges pending he would have been there for at least a month or two months,” he said.
“It’s a big, big relief.”
JNN News 
If the saudi have any shame and when it has been proved beyond doubt that the respected Canadian Scholar was innocent then the culprits of Terrorism , the concerned police officials who erroniously manhandled the Cleric, should be immediately relieved of their duties and should be publicly flogged atleast 100 Lashes at the open squire of the Masjid e Nabvi , so that any such incided is never repeated . These Saudis have absolutely no shame and they are so much far distanced from real Islam where during these days of Hajj pilgrimmage even hurting the fly is forbidden and recommended to be avoided .
Hazrat Imam Husain (a s) had taken refuge in the holy precinct of Kaabah but left the place when he felt that armed merceneries are roaming around with hidden arms and to avoid bloodshed in the precinct , he left Hajj doing instead
Umarah and these shameless , who call themselves Muslims are always looking for any chance to pollute the sacred
place with the blood of the devout pilgrims .
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