RIYADH, 14 June 2003 — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has denied that the sacking of some imams in the Kingdom was linked to the May 12 terrorist attacks in Riyadh, as was reported in the Western media. The ministry said the dismissals were solely an administrative decision and that preachers continued to carry out their activities around the country.

The ministry’s statement came the same day that Saudi spokesman Adel Al-Jubeir told a press conference at the Saudi Embassy in Washington that the sacking of imams was part of the reforms activated by the Kingdom since the bombings, which included arresting clerics “who preached hatred and intolerance.”

Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Tawfeeq Al-Sudairi told Al-Watan newspaper yesterday that the ministry had been falsely accused of failing to play its role and step up efforts to counter extremist ideas, adding that people continued to deliver sermons according to regulations set by the system.

Dr. Al-Sudairi stressed the importance of a strategic plan to combat extremism. He said the ministry had its own plans that are being implemented through various programs conducted by special committees. The implementation of any strategic plan in this area meant that other ministries and related government bodies such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Culture and Information and other commissions needed to join hands to combat extremist ideas.

The official said Interior Minister Prince Naif’s call for a strategic plan to combat extremism was being followed, but more cooperation between ministries was needed to assign clear roles to each of them in implementing the plan and to develop a unified strategy.

Dr. Al-Sudairi said Prince Naif’s call would protect the minds of the younger generation against extremism and help strengthen national security. He thanked the prince for the support he gave the ministry.

The official also denied the ministry had gagged preachers in the Kingdom and said they were only stopped if they violated administrative procedures, like any other employee of the ministry.

Dr. Al-Sudairi said the ministry recently completed a tour of inspection of mosques all over Saudi Arabia resulting in the decision to sack some imams and muezzins due to their poor performance. Others had been asked to enroll in training programs to improve their performance. Dr. Al-Sudairi stressed that the sacking was an administrative procedure that came as part of the ministry’s efforts to strengthen the role of mosques in the Kingdom.

He added that sermons inside mosques were organized and supervised by special committees from the ministry and that anyone found in violation of the ministry’s procedures was stopped. The official also said missions carried out by the ministry in Muslim countries or in Islamic communities were going according to plan and that nothing had changed in the matter.