Islam prohibits harm to places of worship even during war

DAMMAM: Shoura Council member Hanan Al-Ahmadi has lauded the role of the security forces for thwarting the terrorist attack on Al-Anoud Mosque in Dammam on Friday.
Hailing the statement of the Council of Senior Scholars, Al-Ahmadi said: “It is a decisive statement that Islam prohibits harm to places of worship even during legitimate wars.”
She said: “Our country is going through difficult times after the Al-Anoud and Al-Qadeeh terror attacks, as it faces an enemy that uses Islam as a cover to create a sectarian divide in the Kingdom.”
Al-Ahmadi stressed on the importance of realizing that intellectual extremism leads to a culture of hatred, blasphemy, sectarianism and discrimination within society. “It is our duty to fight this scourge by word and sincere deeds to save our homeland.”
She praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for his statement: “Each one who participated, planned, supported or sympathized with the bombing of Al-Qadeeh Mosque will be held accountable and punished.”
The denouncement of sectarianism is necessary, said Al-Ahmadi, adding: “We as individuals should adopt a decisive stance with all aspects of sectarianism and violence, as aggression has exceeded all limits.”
She said that the security efforts despite their importance and efficiency will not be enough to defeat this aggression and that it was everyone’s duty and responsibility to fight terrorism.
“Despite successive attacks recently, all Saudi citizens showed their loyalty and solidarity by standing united against terrorism,” Al-Ahmadi said.
The first step toward security and stability is the rejection of sectarianism and strengthening of human rights, she added.
Meanwhile, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh Al-Asheikh has revealed that the dismissal of Friday preachers is done weekly based on their irregularities and violations committed. He said that his ministry monitors the activities of its employees and those of the other government agencies on social networking websites existing inside or outside the country, even outside working hours, and then raises the names of violators to official bodies.
In a press statement, the minister noted that every person who has openly pledged allegiance to parties other than the rulers of the Kingdom has been criminalized, adding that the secret formation of groups that only aim to shed the blood of citizens and instill sedition in society is dealt with very seriously.