MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia will soon open a special department for combating terrorism, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif announced on Tuesday night.
He said the department would be established on the basis of a well thought-out strategy. “The Interior Ministry, along with the Shoura Council, has worked out a strategy to combat extremism and terrorism,” said Prince Naif at a sahoor party at the residence of Abdul Rahman Faqeeh, a prominent Makkah businessman.
The prince said the new specialized academic department for combating terror would be the first of its kind in the world. “We have taken this step out of our conviction that thought should be confronted by thought and through reasoning,” he added.
Prince Naif said the plan to open the department was one of several measures taken by the government as part of its anti-terror campaign. He said the Kingdom would continue its efforts to convince Al-Qaeda militants to return to the right path.
He said the offices of senior officials would be kept open despite the recent assassination attempt on Prince Muhammad bin Naif, assistant interior minister for security affairs. A wanted terrorist blew himself up in Prince Muhammad’s residence last month as the prince was receiving Ramadan well-wishers.
The interior minister said by implementing Shariah and with the efforts of security officers, Saudi Arabia had been successful in ensuring security for the millions of pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah. He also referred to the Kingdom’s successful anti-terror campaign, which has thwarted many terrorist operations and led to the arrest of many Al-Qaeda militants.
Prince Naif highlighted the Kingdom’s remarkable development in education, health and other sectors. “In 1373H when I was governor of Riyadh, the number of secondary school graduates was just six. Now this number has reached hundreds of thousands. We now have 20 government-run universities. Many Saudis now hold master’s and doctorate degrees in different specializations,” he pointed out.
In his welcome address, businessman Faqeeh congratulated Prince Naif on the escape of his son Prince Muhammad from the assassin. “We as citizens thank the government for its efforts to combat terror. This has helped security and stability prevail all over the country and enabled citizens and residents to sleep peacefully,” Faqeeh said.
He emphasized the importance of security in boosting development and attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
Prince Naif, who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, later met Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy, undersecretaries at the ministry and heads of Tawafa organizations, and other Haj-related agencies to discuss preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage season.
