“The Saudi judiciary guarantees legitimate freedom and rights to all. We should, however, distinguish between one’s rights and attempts to create chaos or upsetting the law and order. We should also keep in mind that freedom and responsibility are inseparable. One cannot exist without the other,” said Al-Isa, who is currently visiting US.

Al-Isa, who is heading a delegation to a legal forum, made the statement following a meeting with United States Attorney General Eric Holder and other officials.

Referring to measures taken by the Saudi government to stop terror financing, Al-Isa said, “The government has taken stern steps to counter terror financing. The steps included legislation of regulations and strong executive tools besides handing suspects to justice.”

During the meeting, Al-Isa also gave brief outline of the Saudi justice system and court procedures. He added that Saudi courts issue decisions on the basis the Islamic Law.

The minister said the Islamic jurisprudence has been enriched by ijtihad (individual decisions of eminent religious scholars) in many countries over the past many centuries. An decision based on scared texts is respected and approved by the entire Saudi society without dispute, he said.

Another time-proven feature of the Islamic legal texts is their flexibility to suit changing times, places and situations, he added.

He said sacredness of the Islamic law makes the people adhere to them as a spiritual obligation.

“The Kingdom follows a clear path of Islamic law marked by its principles of moderation, toleration and coexistence with others,’ he said.

The minister stressed that extremism was a foreign idea that intruded on the Saudi society. “A reading of the history of more than past 100 years of the Kingdom will not show any instance of deviating from the moderate path,” he said.

“The Saudi society is not carried away by any extremist slogan or name. Islam did not instruct the believers to follow any slogans,” he said.

“Islam is a religion of peace. It coexists with other faiths, cultures and civilizations. The history of society at the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, proves this fact. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s call for interfaith dialogue is based on this principle,” the minister said.