JEDDAH, 11 September — Saudi Arabia has set up a higher authority for relief and charitable activities to monitor charitable organizations in the country and make sure their funds reach the right beneficiaries, Interior Minister Prince Naif announced yesterday.
In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, he disclosed that Riyadh had freed six of the 14 Al-Qaeda suspects Iran had extradited recently to the Kingdom.
“The remaining suspects are still under probe and we did not find any evidence linking them with the Al-Qaeda network,” the interior minister said.
“We had also received three women and seven children and we handed them over to their relatives soon after receiving them,” he added.
Prince Naif said investigations have proved that Saud Al-Rasheed had no links with the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks as alleged by US authorities.
“It has become clear that he had returned from Afghanistan before the events and what was reported in the media against him was mere exaggeration and far from the truth,” the prince pointed out.
Prince Naif stressed that Saudi charitable societies had no relations with terrorism. “We have set up regulations to follow their activities. But with regard to the accusations against them, we have to understand that it is very easy to level accusations which may not be true.”
He also condemned the allegations that the Kingdom was promoting terrorism by supporting Islamic schools in other countries. “This is a baseless allegation,” he added.
Prince Naif confirmed that the Kingdom had received a number of wanted Saudi men from Yemen.
Referring to the Saudi Al-Qaeda suspects arrested in Morocco, he said: “We are awaiting the result of investigation.”
He estimated the number of Saudi prisoners held at the Guantanamo base at 127. “We are making continuous contacts to follow up on their situation,” he added.
Prince Naif underscored the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States and Europe and said they are based on mutual respect and joint interests.
“Relations with these countries have remained strong because they understand the reality and soundness of Saudi stands, its international reputation and efforts in the service of world peace and stability,” the prince said.
Prince Naif denounced the “unjustified” anti-Saudi media campaign and called upon Western media organizations to make sure what they are reporting about the Kingdom is correct and objective, instead of leveling false accusations against the country without any justification.
He emphasized the need for establishing contacts with the public in Western countries. He said the Kingdom had taken steps to confront the smear campaign, correct the misconceptions and improve its image abroad.
Referring to calls to change the Saudi educational curriculum, he said: “We strongly believe in the correctness of our education system and its objectives. We don’t change our systems on the demands of others. We work in accordance with our faith and conviction. We believe that it is in the interest of our country and people and it does not go against our values and fundamentals,” he added.
Asked about the alleged feelings of enmity among Saudis toward the United States, he said: “We don’t have any scale to know these feelings and reactions and nobody would be able to control them. Now, the question is what is the reason for these feelings? The reply, in my opinion, is the continuous smear campaign against the Kingdom, making judgments against nations and faiths for the actions of individuals and accusing them of wrongdoing they have not done.
“Tell me, who will not be angry if your faiths or values or fundamentals are attacked? The Israeli killings and atrocities against Palestinians are another reason for this anger. The Saudi people would not get angry except for good reasons.”
