KSA vows zero tolerance for terrorism

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Wednesday reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s determination to combat terrorism and donated $100 million to support the international counterterrorism center under the United Nations.
“Terrorism threatens global peace and stability,” King Abdullah said in a joint Eid Al-Fitr message with Crown Prince Salman. King Abdullah called for joint international efforts to fight terrorism without showing any leniency toward militants and their funders.
“We should understand that terrorism will not disappear within a limited period. So we have to be prepared for a long fight with terrorism. Whenever we try to tighten the noose it could become increasingly aggressive and violent. But we have strong faith in God that it would be defeated,” the message said.
Muslims in the Kingdom, including expatriates, will celebrate Eid Al-Fitr on Thursday, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The Supreme Court has confirmed the sighting of Shawwal crescent by reliable witnesses on Wednesday evening.
The Supreme Court also congratulated King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman, other members of the royal family, Saudis in general and Muslims all over the world on the advent of Eid Al-Fitr and hoped the Eid would bring greater progress and prosperity to the Islamic world and strengthen Muslim unity.
“I congratulate you from the vicinity of the Grand Mosque in Makkah on the advent of Eid Al-Fitr,” the king said while praising the Prophet (peace be upon him) for spreading the message of Islam to lead humanity from the darkness of oppression and ignorance to the light of truth, equality and justice.
“Prophet Muhammad had also raised the flag of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, wisdom and sensible conduct,” the king said.
King Abdullah and Prince Salman decried the painful condition of the Muslim world as a result of civil wars and standoffs, resulting in the killing of innocent people and terrorizing of citizens.
The message cautioned against the political motives of terrorist ideologies, distorting the meaning of religious texts to suit their vested interests, adding that such terrorists were tarnishing the image of Islam and its values and principles. “They try to cause chaos and confusion in the earth,” the message said quoting a verse from the Qur’an.
King Abdullah stressed the importance of activating the international counterterrorism center, which he proposed during an anti-terror conference in Riyadh on Feb. 5, 2005. Saudi Arabia had earlier donated $10 million for the center.
King Abdullah and Prince Salman cautioned the Ummah against the danger paused by the distorted ideologies.
They emphasized that Muslims should return to the Qur’an and Sunnah to change their present situation and strengthen their unity.
“We should stand firm against the proponents of sedition, deviation and distortion,” the message added.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah received telephone calls from several Muslim leaders including Turkish President Abdullah Gul, King Muhammad of Morocco and King Hamad of Bahrain and exchanged Eid greetings.