To carry out attacks against an enemy occupying your land, killing your children and humiliating your family — which is exactly what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinian people — is considered legitimate jihad. To launch suicide attacks against civilians who have come to your country at the invitation of its government to serve the country and train its people is terrorism, plain and simple. There is no difference between murdering people and taking your own life. Both are criminal acts that must be condemned.

Those who carried out Tuesday’s suicide attacks in Riyadh have not harmed American interests as they claimed, but have in fact inflicted great damage upon their country, its security, interests and stability.

At a time when we invite foreign investors, many of whom are giant American firms, to come and do business in our country, create jobs for our youth, transfer technology and contribute to the country’s progress, terrorists commit their criminal acts which destabilize the country. This will only force foreign companies to think twice before committing their money and expertise to help us. And at a time when we invest billions in hospitality infrastructure projects to attract visitors and tourists and provide work for our people, terrorists driven by poisonous ideas and twisted logic attempt to prevent the country from moving forward by seeking to destroy the tourist sector and the entire economy.

In the end, what these people aim at is to turn a country that Almighty God has blessed and made a safe haven and refuge for all people into one in which the peaceful and innocent are brutalized and worshipers, pilgrims and visitors terrorized. By what they have just done, the terrorists have crossed all lines. This is as far as any criminal can go; a limit has been reached. We hope those responsible for these acts are quickly arrested and brought to justice. As for others who have been brainwashed but have not committed criminal acts, they should repent and atone for their behavior, before it is too late to spare themselves the wrath of society and the most severe punishment from the Almighty God.

Arab News From the Local Press 17 May 2003