MAKKAH, 6 October — The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah yesterday called on the United States and its allies to show restraint and not start a war over the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Addressing more than 500,000 worshipers assembled at the mosque for the Friday prayers, Sheikh Saleh ibn Humaid warned world leaders against adopting policies that pit civilizations, religions and races against each other.
“Logic dictates that at a time of crisis the afflicted nation must heed the advice of its friends and ... be prepared to hear the truth even if it is bitter and to accept advice even if painful,” he said in his Friday sermon.
“The world is experiencing a phenomenon which has robbed people of sleep. It is the issue of terrorism and corruption on Earth,” Sheikh Saleh said. “This issue calls for new policies, not new wars,” the Islamic scholar said.
“The solution needed is one that is far away from the mentality of revenge, killing or destruction, and the one that does not stir conflict between civilizations and religions,” he said. “What is required now is a comprehensive vision aimed at finding a solution to the problem, not the creation of new problems that could turn out to be more complex,” he said.
Sheikh Saleh called on the international community to find a just solution to the Palestinian problem. “State terrorism is the most dangerous of them all, because it is well-organized and practiced by governmental agencies and forces,” he said, alluding to the brutal Israeli military campaign against unarmed Palestinian civilians. “Israel is a living example for terrorism as it practices the most brutal crimes and violates human rights, including the right to live, by bringing about destruction and forcing people to leave their homeland,” he explained.
