February 11, 2005

COUNTER-TERRORISM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: A NATIONWIDE ANTI-TERRORISM CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN SAUDI ARABIA. OFFICIAL AND NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE DEVIANT GROUP. THE GRAND MUFTI OF SAUDI ARABIA: INFORMING ABOUT DEVIANT GROUP IS A LEGAL DUTY. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SAUDI SHOURA COUNCIL: TERRORIST ACTIONS COMMITTED IN THE KINGDOM BENEFIT ONLY THE ENEMIES OF ISLAM. A nationwide anti-terror campaign was launched as officials, intellectuals, students and the general public vowed to stand by the government in its efforts to stamp out terrorism. The campaign, coinciding with the Counterterrorism International Conference in Riyadh, aims at increasing public awareness of terrorism and deviancy. All governorates, ministries and government departments are taking part in the campaign, which aims to isolate the remaining elements who support the terror network. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz , Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Interior Minister Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz have instructed their ministries and all agencies under them to ensure the campaign is a resounding success. The campaign includes thousands of schools and colleges across the country, and special programs have been planned to enlighten students on the dangers posed by deviant groups and their destructive activities. Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad Ibn Fahd opened the campaign at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran. "Beginning the campaign from the university highlights the role of educational institutions in educating the public on the dangers of this phenomenon," said KFUPM President Dr. Khaled Al-Sultan. Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region patronized the Counter-Terrorism National Solidarity Campaign. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Prince Mohammed pointed in his speech to the internal plots by the deviant group directed by the Satan against its country and religion, stressing that the Kingdom was in the forefront of those who have warned of the dangers of terrorism even before it has suffered from it. Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Tabuk Region stressed that the phenomenon of terrorism is dangerous for the world societies necessitating that all peoples should be united against it. On the occasion of holding the International Conference for Combating Terrorism in the Kingdom, he said that the Kingdom has been one of the countries suffering from terrorism and it was in the forefront of countries that called for international cooperation to combat terrorism. Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan noted that the participation of more than 50 Islamic, Arab and friendly countries in the Conference clearly demonstrates the Kingdom's remarkable position in the world community. He indicated that Islam is the religion of love, justice and peace. Similar campaigns were also patronized, inaugurated and addressed in their regions by Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Musaed Al Saud, the Governor of the Northern Borders Region, Prince Mohammed Ibn Nasser Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Jazan Region, Prince Faisal Ibn Khalid Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Vice Governor of Asir Region, Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Saad Ibn Abdul Aziz, Vice Governor of Hael Region, Prince Badr Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdullah Ibn Jelawi, the Governor of Al-Ahsa, and Abdul Aziz Al-Thinayyan, the Governor of Khobar. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh, the Kingdom's Grand Mufti, said Islam, which calls for the protection of a man's life, family, wealth, honor and intellect, totally rejects terrorism. "If a person kills a believer, his punishment is hell," the mufti said, quoting a Qur'anic verse. He also pointed out that the protection of non-Muslims living in a Muslim country was the responsibility of the country's government. Al Al-Sheikh said terrorists who cause corruption on Earth by carrying out killings and destruction deserve tough punishment as the Holy Qur'an directs. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has condemned "ugly acts of terrorism" and said these must be confronted at all levels. In a statement, he dealt with the phenomenon of terrorism and the necessity to combat it at all levels. In this context, he cited several verses of the Holy Quran and elaborated on sayings of the Prophet (May Allah Peace Be Upon Him). Sheikh Abdul Aziz mentioned some of the terrorists' crimes such as accusing Muslims and leaders as 'infidels,' calling to fight them, killing non-Muslim expatriates who live here and a lot of their malicious acts. He added that these 'ugly' crimes are in contravention of Islam and that all Muslims should promote cooperation to annihilate terrorism and make youth aware of its dangers. Sheikh Saleh Al Al-Sheikh, minister of Islamic affairs and endowments, called upon religious scholars, intellectuals, academics and writers to stand with the government in its fight against terrorism and extremism. The Islamic Ministry has planned a variety of programs in support of the anti-terror campaign. "We have set up a team to carry out a number of programs, including lectures and seminars, to educate the public on the danger posed by deviant groups," the minister said. Saudi Arabia has been successful in changing the ideological thinking of more than 250 Al-Qaeda sympathizers, the Kingdom's Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al Al-Sheikh said. "We have reached out to them and have succeeded in convincing more than 250 to change their ways," he said, speaking of his ministry's counterterrorism program conducted over the Internet. The program includes direct counselling as well as a hotline for families who are worried that their sons may be drawn toward the Al-Qaeda terror network. "We conducted a dialogue with 800 of them and more than a quarter were convinced. We are continuing our efforts with the rest," he told delegates attending an international counterterrorism conference. "The Internet is a fertile field. We have used many Islamic and cultural sites to increase awareness of the dangers of terrorism." Since a triple suicide bombing in Riyadh in May 2003, the Kingdom has cracked down on Al-Qaeda militants and the religious scholars who have publicly supported them. It has also waged a media campaign to turn Saudis against violence and to persuade parents to be more aware of signs that their sons are being drawn to militants, either in Saudi Arabia or in Iraq. Militants have also made extensive use of the Internet and there are at least two Al-Qaeda-affiliated web magazines which have prompted alarm among some security experts who say militants are turning the web into a virtual classroom. Al Al-Sheikh said his ministry operates a hotline for anyone who wants guidance. "If there is a father who does not know how to solve a problem with his son, there is a direct line to the ministry." The minister said his ministry had instructed preachers 25 times over the past three years to devote entire sermons to condemning terrorism. Over the past year, religious scholars from the ministry have held several weeks of contacts with "terrorists" in order to show them their errors, he said. "Most have wanted to continue (the contact) because we do not approach this in a condescending way," he said, describing the contact as "one-to-one." It was not clear if he was referring to face-to-face meetings or only exchanges over the Internet. Al Al-Sheikh, who was one of the main speakers on the second day of the conference, also emphasized the need to solve Middle Eastern problems as a way to reduce the appeal of terrorism. "People cannot ignore what is going on in Iraq and Palestine as these issues arouse the feelings and emotions of Muslims around the world," he pointed out. He said that convincing extremists not to cross the line into terrorism is not an easy task. "There are two ways of dealing with them; one is by opening a dialogue and trying to reason with them and the other is by using force," he added. Al Al-Sheikh said the true Islam, which Saudi Arabia promotes, is a great distance from what the extremists believe in. "Islam is a religion of peace and prosperity; it teaches us ethics and morality," he said, adding that a Muslim must be loyal to his country and his country must be able to trust him. The minister noted that when Osama Bin Laden was in Saudi Arabia prior to 1998, he cooperated with the Saudi government as well as with the Americans. "When Osama announced his war against Saudi Arabia and the humanity at large, the government decided to withdraw his Saudi nationality," Al Al-Sheikh said, describing Bin Laden as the head of terrorism. Saudi scholars have issued statements and edicts defining and condemning terrorism. "The Prophet said that those who injure non-Muslims in a Muslim land will not have a chance of coming close to Heaven," Al Al-Sheikh said. He said his ministry planned to continue its dialogue with extremists. "We do not intend to discuss their beliefs with them since we find them completely wrong. On the other hand, we try to dissuade them from involving themselves in terrorist attacks." Al Al-Sheikh denied allegations that the Kingdom's religious establishment was against reform. "That is not true. The religious establishment agrees with many of the reforms," he said, adding that reform must be implemented gradually. "We will not accept any pressure from outside," he said. Friday sermons delivered by prayer leaders (imams) in many of the Kingdom's mosques focused on the need to confront terrorism. "Fighting terrorism is a joint responsibility," Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid, one of the imams of the Grand Mosque, said in his sermon. Bin-Humaid, who is also chairman of the Shoura Council, said terrorist actions committed by Al-Qaeda cells in the Kingdom benefited only the enemies of Islam. He reminded scholars, teachers, writers and imams of their responsibility to guide youth and protect them from deviant thought. Representatives from the international press and delegates who were participating in the Counter terrorism Conference in Riyadh met with members of the Shoura (Consultative) Council led by Chairman Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid during its weekly meeting. The Chairman welcomed the press and answered questions, which covered nearly every issue in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from upcoming elections and the role of women to domestic terrorism. In his speech, Dr. Bin-Humaid said the conference reveals the great dangers of terrorism and its global, blood-thirsty reach. During the session, Dr. Bin-Humaid said the council is following the terrorist attacks that struck the country. The council, he said, has created committees to observe the situation and seek solutions by conducting studies and research on terrorism. "The committee is doing massive research on this issue, and it has questioned many people related to terrorism, including those who were taken into custody for issues related to terrorism," Dr. Bin-Humaid said. Sheikh Abdul Bari Al-Thubaity, the imam of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, said Islam had nothing to do with terrorism and condemned those who fish in troubled waters and work to tarnish the image of Islam and Muslims. "Islam is a religion of mercy and benevolence. It is a religion of construction, not destruction," the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying. On the other hand Saudi ambassador to Switzerland Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Attar has said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exerts efforts at international gatherings to expose tactics of terrorism which it has suffered from its bad effects. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency on the occasion of the start of the anti-terrorism conference which started in Riyadh, he stressed that Saudi Arabia's government and people renounce all kinds of terrorism and stress that terrorism has neither a religion nor nationality. The international community has suffered a lot from horrors of terrorism, and these sufferings have remarkably increased in the contemporary times in a manner that has annoyed peace-and -security loving people, said a statement released by the Saudi Embassy on the eve of Counter-terrorism International Conference, openings its deliberations in Riyadh. "These serious developments have made it necessary to exert efforts for confronting this phenomenon," the statement said. "In realization of this important reality, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has convened an international conference for confronting terrorism so as to enhance the on-going international efforts in this respect," said the statement, noting that the conference will provide a good opportunity to exchange views and to present proposals for combating terrorism. The statement pointed out that the conference aims at shedding light on concepts of terrorism, and the historical and cultural developments that feed terrorism, as well as projecting links between terrorism and money-laundering, smuggling of weapons and drugs. "Moreover, the conference aims at getting acquainted with terrorist organizations and their style of work in addition to the experiences of various countries and international organizations in the field of combating terrorism. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hopes that all countries, and international and regional organizations participating in the conference will present useful recommendations that positively contribute to uprooting terrorism," the statement added.