King Abdullah approves project on development of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah

Prince Naif patronizes human rights symposium, sheds light on intellectual security problem

Saudi-financed humanitarian projects opened in Beirut

Lebanon's largest mosque inaugurated in Beirut

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has approved the project of the development of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah and applauded the efforts exerted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation in this regard.

This was announced by head of the authority Abdullah Rahaimi who stated that the king blessed the directive to give the private sector the opportunity to build and operate airports and gain experience.

Rahaimi said that immediately after the king approval of the transforming Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport to an international airport, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, issued directives to adopt two plans for the airport: one, short-term (urgent), and another, long-term, to develop the airport.

Rahaimi added that the short-term plan began by expanding the terminals and the tarmacs and installing equipment for air transport.

The main development project will be implemented in three stages over the next three decades (30 years) in line with directives by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Rahaimi said, adding that the first stage will cover the period from 2009 to 2019 and will include the preparation of the main plan of the airport. The second one will cover the period from 2019 to 2029 and will include the building of a new terminal. The third will cover the period from 2029 to 2039 and will include the building of another new terminal to accommodate the expected increase in the number of passengers, Rahaimi said.

Rahaimi thanked the king and the crown prince for their support for air transport sector and airports in the kingdom.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, patronized in Makkah the opening ceremony of "Human Rights in Higher Education: Intellectual Security" symposium.

At the venue, he was received by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Region; Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Al-Anqary; and Rector of Ummalgura University Dr. Adnan bin Mohammed Wizzan.

Then, Prince Naif toured the exhibition held on the fringes of the symposium and was briefed on its contents.

In a key address, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz expressed pleasure to meet this gathering in this sacred place to discuss such an important issue: "human rights in higher education: intellectual security".

He said "to discuss such issues and topics related to human rights in education or in life in general, does not mean that our society is ignorant of these rights or that it lacks such rights as widely reported by malicious propaganda campaigns against the Kingdom".

He added that such topics are presented for discussion to reflect the reality of our country which enjoys the best rights according to Islamic sharia law.

The issue of intellectual security has become a vital and important concern for scientists, intellectuals and protectors of security in the world, given the spread of organized crime and terrorism, Prince Naif said.

He called for more close cooperation between security institutions and educational ones to better analyze and interpret recent social and economical changes leading to crime.

He said the Kingdom has confronted the phenomenon of terrorism and intellectual deviation with the needed courage and professionalism.

The Minister said the Saudi security efforts in the face of terrorist action and thought have received worldwide interest and appreciation.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, has reiterated the importance of the role that can be played by the Saudi universities for tackling the security problem.

Prince Naif, who was speaking on the fringes of a seminar on "Human Rights in Higher Education: Intellectual Security", said the number of universities in the Kingdom has amounted to 20 in addition to the special universities.

These universities will never be unable of presenting a good scientific concept that capable of eradicating the deviant ideas and replacing them by a proper ideology which is based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah (the Prophet's teachings).

Speaking with the members of the academic staff of Makkah-based Ummal Qura university, Prince Naif said the Kingdom is targeted, and added 'but thanks to Almighty Allah, thanks to the wise directives of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, and thanks to the vigilance and efficiency of the security men, no harm will occur.

Prince Naif highlighted the security efficiency of the security men who were able to abort several terror acts which targeted the country.

We have proved to the world that the Saudi security is capable of confronting the deviant ideology, he said.

Prince Naif made it clear that the citizen is the first security man and added 'we do feel proud for adherence to our creed, and we are proud of our Leadership and of our nation with all of its categories in all regions, governorates and villages.

He noted that the good citizen is the citizen who unwaveringly works for the defense of his country and who is loyal to his Leadership.

He lauded the existing cooperation between the security men and the categories of the Saudi people.

Prince Naif said the universities are capable of conducting scientific researches for eradicating the deviant ideas which defame Islam.

He noted that the ulema (Muslim scholars), particularly the General Mufti, are also capable of positively contributing to fighting deviant ideas.

Moreover, Prince Naif said there are about 15,000 mosques in the Kingdom for performance of Friday prayers, and these mosques constitute a suitable forum for the guidance of the people.

As the universities are centers of researches, then it is their duty to conduct studies that capable of eradicating the ideas which defame the religion and the country, he noted.

Prince Naif pointed out that the intellectual security is not less importance than the public security, and so the intellectuals should shoulder their responsibility in this respect.

He noted that relation exists between the security and the science, and the security capability depends on the proper idea, adding that even before the increase of the phenomenon of terrorism, we were intensifying contacts between the interior ministry and the universities.

He said 'we have been asking conducting studies on the affairs that concern the interior ministry'.

He noted that there is no reference which is better that the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

We are as Arabs, do feel proud because the Holy Quran is in Arabic and the Prophet Mohammed, peace is upon him, was an Arab.

Prince Naif pointed out that Islam has led the mankind on the proper path.

He hoped that the Muslims would be capable of following the path of Islam and realize security and stability.

He hoped that the universities would be capable of contributing to the service of the county, and said Islam urges the Muslims to benefit from all sciences and modern technologies.

Prince Naif said the Founder of the Kingdom, Late King Abdulaziz, had done his best to introduce modern sciences to the country, and had persuaded the sons of the country with the importance of benefiting from these modem sciences.

After the unification of the country, King Abdulaziz was concerned with the issues of education and security, and his sons followed the footsteps of their great father in this respect.

Our major goal should be adherence to our creed and service of our country, he said.

On the role which could be played by the imam of the mosques, he said 'we have discussed this issue with Sheikh Salih al Alsheikh, the minister of Islamic affairs, endowments, call and guidance, and I have asked all imams to shoulder their responsibility in this respect, because the mosques constitute the best forum for the guidance of the people.

But frankly speaking I would like to say that this required role has not yet been played by the imams of the mosques with the exception of the imams of the two Holy Mosques who have shouldered their responsibility in this respect.

It is hoped that the imams of the two Holy Mosques will constitute good examples for the imams of the other mosques in the Kingdom, he concluded.

Prince Khalid al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah region and Head of the Hajj Central Committee, has reiterated the keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on enabling the pilgrims to perform their rituals in comfort and ease.

In a statement to SPA, Prince Khalid said all required arrangements pertaining to the service of the pilgrims and visitors of the Prophet's Mosque will be made, and plans of the concerned authorities pertaining to the service of pilgrims will be discussed prior to their approval and implementation.

Prince Khalid said in coordination with the concerned authorities the required arrangements will be taken to prevent any violator of the Hajj regulations, notably obtaining Hajj permission, to enter Makkah and the Holy Places.

He urged the citizens and residents to adhere to the regulations of the Kingdom because these regulations aim at ensuring their security and safety.

Adherence to the regulations will have a positive impact, he said.

Prince Khalid made it clear that severe penalties, including fines and impounding of the vehicle, will imposed on owners of vehicles who transport irregular pilgrims.

In the case of recurrence of the violation the vehicle may be confiscated, he said.

Prince Khalid said field teams will be formed with the participation of the concerned authorities under one leadership.

These teams will undertake pursuing violators inside the Holy Places and getting sure that all persons there have obtained the Hajj licenses.

If the pilgrim is without a Hajj license, then severe financial fines will imposed on him in addition to other penalties including deportation for the resident who violates the regulation.

So it is an essential matter for the sponsors to urge their employees to adhere to the regulations and to draw their attention to the importance of obtaining Hajj license prior to the expiry of the fixed time.

Prince Khalid said the media plan prepared by the Hajj central committee and the executive committee for observing transportation of the pilgrims has been approved by the Interior Minister and Head of the Hajj Higher Committee.

He noted that the plan is an integrated awareness campaign through different audio-visual media means.

The plan aims at urging the citizen and resident to the importance of obtaining Hajj license.

The plan also includes the importance of the awareness of the citizen and resident by the imams of mosques to the adherence to the regulations set by the state.

On the role of the establishments of the internal pilgrims, Prince Khalid said the ministry of Hajj has been drawing the attention of these establishments to prepare their camps properly with reasonable prices.

He said the establishments should transport their pilgrims aboard licensed vehicles to Makkah and the Holy Places, adding that the implementation of these arrangements will have an effective role as regards enabling the pilgrims to perform their rituals through the regular means.

Prince Khalid pointed out that the required arrangements have been made for making enough services available for public transport between the car parking zones at the entrances of Makkah, the central zone around the Holy Mosque and the car parking zones at the Holy Places.

He noted that these arrangements have been made in coordination with the ministry of transport.

In line with directives of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister and General Supervisor of the Saudi Popular Campaign for the Relief of the Lebanese People, Advisor to the Interior Minister and Head of the Campaign Dr. Saed Alo'rabi Alharthi opened a number of humanitarian projects carried out by the campaign in the city of Beirut.

The projects included Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Center for Dialysis with a total cost of about SR4,162,686, the project of Saudi-Lebanese Center for Dentistry with a total cost of SR543,000 and the Horizons Center for Technical Sciences and Technology with a total cost of SR107,145.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdulaziz Khojah.

On the occasions, speech ceremonies were held. The speakers highlighted the strong Saudi-Lebanese relations and hailed Saudi support for Lebanon.

In line with directives by Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister and Head of the Saudi Popular Campaign for the Relief of the Lebanese People, the campaign held a ceremony on the occasion of the opening of a number of humanitarian projects carried out by the campaign in various regions of Lebanon and at various humanitarian and social areas.

The ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Interior Minister and general supervisor of the campaign Dr. Saed Al-Orabi Al-Harthi and other senior officials.

A speech ceremony was held on the occasion. The speakers highlighted the strong Saudi-Lebanese relations and Saudi support for Lebanon and the Palestinian people.

At the end of the ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed to supply the first batch of medicines and medical supplies to the Palestinian camps in Lebanon by the campaign.

During the ceremony, a number of documentaries on the campaign's activities were shown.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia and its King Abdullah for helping Lebanon, the Arabs and all Muslims, describing it as "the kingdom of humanity." "We are very pleased with this help ... and our Saudi brethren are in our eyes and hearts," Qabbani said. He made the remarks in an address at a ceremony inaugurating a Saudi-financed educational center. Lebanon, Qabbani added, has "always been in the kingdom's heart."

Local and Arab Muslim religious leaders, politicians and a crowd of thousands gathered in Downtown Beirut to take part in the first Friday prayers at Mohammad al-Amin Mosque, six years after late former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri launched its establishment.

Hariri's son and political heir Saad Hariri held back tears as he read a prayer at his father's grave located on site before unveiling a plaque that paid tribute to the former premier who was killed by a massive car bomb in February 2005.

The 10,000-square-meter mosque is Lebanon's largest Islamic house of prayer. It can accommodate 5,000 men and 1,000 women. Its official inauguration held Saturday in the presence of a number of Lebanese and Arab political and religious figures, including the grand imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque, Sheikh Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi, who was to arrive in Lebanon later Friday.

A statement issued by the Egyptian Embassy said the visit falls within the "special Lebanese-Egyptian relationship" on the official, political, religious and popular levels. The sheikh is expected to hold several meetings with a number of Lebanese officials.

Omani Religious Affairs Minister Abdullah al-Salimi also arrived to take part in the ceremony.

In addition to the Hariri family, Prime Minister Fouad Seniora; Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani; Sheikh Hassan Abdullah, representing Higher Shiite Council vice president Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan; and Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Naim Hassan attended the prayers. Dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Djibouti and the Palestinian territories in addition to scores of social, political and cultural figures were also in attendance.

Egyptian Mufti Ali Jomaa delivered a sermon to the thousands who packed the mosque, including the mufti of Occupied Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein. Bells tolled at nearby churches as the ceremony got under way.

"We hope that this mosque, which unites all believers, will continue to do its job that consists of building humans so prostrates be [placed] ahead of mosques," Jomaa said. "We ask God to help us build good people and unify all Muslim hearts."

Following the prayers, Qabbani held a banquet at Dar al-Fatwa on the occasion. Among those in attendance were Seniora and Sheikh Hassan Masri representing President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri respectively, former premiers Salim al-Hoss, Amin Hafez and Rashid Solh, Bishop Roland Abu Jaoude representing Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, Hariri and the participating Arab religious and political figures.

The luncheon was attended also by dignitaries who attended the event, including Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Salih bin Abdulaziz Al Alsheikh and Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdulaziz Khojah.

Qabbani said Dar al-Fatwa would always be "the official religious authority of Muslims in Lebanon."

"Dar al-Fatwa will always be loyal to its role in this dear country, while cooperating with all of the Lebanese," he added.

The mosque's architect, Azmi Fakhuri, said the blue-domed structure with four towering minarets had an Ottoman style, copying the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, but a Lebanese identity.

Rafik Hariri had said in 2002 that he had earmarked $24 million to the project.

Luxurious oriental carpets cover the mosque's floor with crystal chandeliers hanging overhead, while the interior walls are decorated with Koranic verses.

The Mohammed Al-Amin mosque is located in downtown Beirut, which is already home to six other mosques and 10 churches.