TUNIS, 16 January 2003 — Interior Minister Prince Naif stated yesterday that the Kingdom would not allow anybody to undermine the security of pilgrims. “We’ll meet with all force any attempt to undermine the security of pilgrims,” he stated.
Addressing a press conference here, Prince Naif, who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, urged pilgrims to cooperate with Saudi authorities in their efforts to provide a peaceful Haj atmosphere.
Asked whether current events in the region might affect the Haj season, Prince Naif replied: “We rule nothing out but we hope everyone will respect the sanctity of the time and place,” he added.
He said the Kingdom had taken all measures to deal with any eventuality. “We have taken all necessary precautions.”
Prince Naif’s statement came as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have begun arriving in the Kingdom to take part in the annual pilgrimage scheduled to start on Feb. 9. About 2.5 million pilgrims from outside and inside the Kingdom are expected to perform Haj this year.
Prince Naif, honorary chairman of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, said that during its meeting in Tunis the council had reached a consensus on confronting acts of terrorism.
He rejected attempts to label as terrorism the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. “The Palestinians are fighting to defend themselves and to protect their rights,” he said. “Those who commit terrorist acts do not represent Arabs or Muslims in any way,” he pointed out.
Commenting on the agreement by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers on fighting corruption, Prince Naif expressed hope that the agreement was in a form acceptable to all. Referring to the Muslim Brotherhood, Prince Naif said that he had said much on this matter and had nothing more to add. “I can say that in such a movement or organization there will be learned scholars and everybody should work to serve the real Islam and the Arab nation,” he said.
On the protection of Arabs and Muslims in America and Europe, he said: “They are subject to the laws of the states where they live.” He rejected any unfair treatment of Muslims and said he believed that Arab and Muslim minorities in Western countries would be capable of defending themselves.
In reply to a question on the possibility of converting the Naif Arab Academy into a university, he said that the issue was under discussion by the academy’s board of directors.
