RIYADH, 3 November — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, yesterday called upon Arabs and Muslims to keep away from provocative actions. “We should control our tongues and should not cause provocation,” he added.
He said Islam was the main target of an ongoing smear campaign launched by a section of the Western media. “You know that we are all targeted ... not only Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Sudan and others ... but the main target is Islam,” the crown prince said.
He was addressing a reception given to prominent Islamic personalities, who came to take part in an international conference organized by the Riyadh-based World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).
He emphasized that the divine religion Islam will emerge victorious. “I can tell you that Islam will remain strong despite all these campaigns. In America itself, a good number of people are coming to the fold of Islam every day,” he pointed out.
Prince Abdullah blamed hidden forces for the disarray in Muslim ranks and urged Muslim countries to stand united in the face of growing challenges.
“Although there are no wars or enmity between Muslim countries which follow the same faith, they remain disunited as a result of the work of hidden hands,” he said.
Prince Abdullah urged the Palestinians to settle their differences and unify their ranks. He said the Palestinians will continue to receive the backing of all Muslims.
The crown prince hoped that the Saudi-initiated Arab peace plan, which was endorsed by the Arab League summit in Beirut last March, would be implemented. The peace plan offers normal ties with Israel in return for its total withdrawal from Arab land.
He denounced the continuing Israeli military campaign against unarmed Palestinians. “Words fail to describe what is happening in Palestine,” he said and urged Arabs and Muslims to work together for the success of the Palestinian cause.
Prince Abdullah reiterated Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of all forms of terrorism. “You will find deviants in all places and times. They don’t have any particular religion. Islam abhors terrorism and has nothing to do with it,” he added.
He urged Muslims to show patience and act with forethought. “God is great and He is above all the arrogant powers and nations,” he said and hoped that God will unite Arabs and Muslims. “But we should have patience and we should not go after provocative actions,” he said.
Sudanese Minister of Endowments and Guidance Dr. Esam Al-Bashir, who spoke on behalf of WAMY conference participants, described Saudi Arabia as the throbbing heart of the Ummah.
“The whole Muslim nation will stand behind the Kingdom in its efforts to defend Islam and its holy places. We’ll stand together to counter any attack on the Kingdom,” he said.
Bashir said the four-day WAMY conference was an example of Muslim unity. “There was free and frank discussion of various issues concerning the Ummah,” he said, adding that the conference adopted vital recommendations for the defense of Islam and Muslims.
In another development, Prince Abdullah yesterday received a message from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The message was handed the crown prince by Yemen’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Khaled Ismail Al-Akwa.
Prince Abdullah also received messages from Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh and President Lansana Conte of Guinea. The crown prince, meanwhile, held talks with former Tunisian Premier Mohammed Mazali.
