JEDDAH, 8 November 2003 — Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, yesterday denounced plans by militants to destabilize the Kingdom and undermine its security.
The Kingdom’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh also condemned the militants who Interior Minister Prince Naif has said were plotting terrorist attacks on pilgrims in Makkah.
“They have violated the sanctity of time and place and committed terrorism, violence, bombings, crime and corruption,” the Makkah imam said while delivering his Friday sermon.
Addressing some one million Muslim faithful who thronged the large mosque complex, Dr. Al-Sudais commended the efforts of Saudi security forces in foiling the terrorists’ plans. The imam was referring to a series of clashes between security forces and suspected militants in Makkah this week.
Two militants blew themselves up on Thursday as police closed in on them in Makkah as part of the country’s crackdown on suspected Al-Qaeda activists following the May 12 bombings in Riyadh.
In his sermon, Sheikh Al-Sudais advised the faithful to make use of Ramadan to win God’s forgiveness and mercy. He stressed the need to teach moderation to the youth. “This is the joint duty of mosque, family, school, university and the media,” he explained.
The imam also criticized those who trigger chaos and confusion in the country in the name of reforms. “They cause violence, carry weapons, undermine security and commit suicide,” Dr. Al-Sudais said.
