# Juhayman al-Otaybi's group · The Cult Dossier · The Atlas · The Congregation of Tomorrow

Source: https://congregationoftomorrow.org/atlas/library/cults/122-juhayman-al-otaybis-group/ · The Congregation of Tomorrow · the Atlas · language: en
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← The Cult Dossier: all 182
The Cult Dossier · No. 122 · Apocalyptic / Doomsday
Juhayman al-Otaybi's group
the Grand Mosque Seizure; al-Ikhwan
1970s – 1979 · Mecca, Saudi Arabia
XII. THE WIDER FIELD — CONCISE ENTRIES
Fully religious — Salafi messianic
### Who led it
### What it worshipped and taught
### Who was in it
### How it ended, or where it stands
### The dead
### Of note
### Its timeline
- 20 NOVEMBER 1979 The first day of the year 1400 AH. Between 300 and 600 armed men, with some women and children, seize the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest site, taking thousands of pilgrims hostage.
- 20 November – 4 December 1979 A two-week siege. Saudi forces, with French advice and gas, retake the mosque. Al-Qahtani is killed, disproving his Mahdi status.
- 9 JANUARY 1980 Juhayman and 62 followers are publicly beheaded in eight cities.
### Its people
### Juhayman al-Otaybi
—
Leader, the Grand Mosque seizure · 1936 – 9 January 1980 · active 1970s–1979
Before the law. EXECUTED by public beheading, January 1980.
Where things stand. Deceased 1980. Official toll: 127 troops and about 117 militants killed, 255 dead in all; diplomats suggested more, and some later estimates exceed 1,000 including pilgrims.
- 20 November 1979 Seizes the Grand Mosque with between 300 and 600 followers.
- 20 Nov – 4 Dec 1979 Two-week siege; al-Qahtani killed, disproving his Mahdi status.
- 9 JANUARY 1980 Publicly beheaded with 62 followers in eight cities.
Checked 2026-09-16
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