JEDDAH, 22 November 2002 — Interior Minister Prince Naif said the suspect in Wednesday’s arson at the McDonald’s restaurant in Alkharj would be caught, put on trial and given a deterrent sentence, Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday.
He was speaking to reporters after the ninth annual meeting of regional governors held in Madinah on Wednesday. Prince Naif explained that an unidentified man came to the MacDonald’s and threatened a South Asian worker with a pistol, set fire to the place after dousing parts of the restaurant with petrol and torching it. The building was gutted. He pointed out that even if McDonald’s is an American food chain, the franchisee is a Saudi.
“It’s an attack against the property of a Muslim, which constitutes an unacceptable act that we will fight using all possible means,” the minister said. The restaurant owner will be “compensated for all the losses suffered and encouraged to reopen the restaurant rapidly.”
Prince Naif denied that the Kingdom’s prisons contained political prisoners, as Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd had pardoned the political prisoners who had been convicted some years ago.
“However, there is one person who is still in prison because he has failed to announce his respect for the existing systems in the country which are based on the Shariah and to show allegiance to its rulers,” he added.
Prince Naif noted that this person would be released when he announces his respect for the systems of the country and shows allegiance to its rulers.
Asked if some mobile telephones were linked with Al-Qaeda organization, Prince Naif said: “We have heard about these reports, but no material evidence exists,” and added that “ we will take necessary measures in this respect”.
He expressed hope that the efforts of the anti-corruption committee would yield positive results.
Prince Naif confirmed that the system of rukhsa (driving license) insurance would be implemented.
He termed as “unacceptable” any attempt from any foreign power to change the Kingdom’s systems. Prince Naif refuted reports in the London-based Al-Quds newspaper that some foreign parties were helping the Kingdom in pursuing Al-Qaeda supporters at the Empty Quarter and the Saudi-Yemeni borders. “The Kingdom’s men are capable of performing their duty,” he added.
Prince Naif hoped that no Saudi citizen was involved in the recent clashes in the Jordanian city Maan, “But given the proximity of the Saudi border, it could have happened,” he added.
Prince Naif underlined the importance accomplishing the national strategy on Saudization with the cooperation of all parties concerned. “Moreover, Saudization is not a subject open to debate.”
He reiterated that the decision to Saudize the limousine business would be carried out in coordination with the parties concerned.
On the Kingdom’s admission to the World Trade Organization, Prince Naif said the ministerial committee assigned to study the issue had submitted its recommendations to the Council of Ministers.
Prince Naif also attended a function organized by the teachers and students of Madinah region at the Prince Mohammed Sports City.
Answering questions asked by members of the audience, Prince Naif stressed the need for launching an educational TV channel to cater for the needs of students and teachers. The prince also disclosed the government’s plan to open an Islamic channel that will enable Muslim scholars to depict the true picture of Islam to the world in all major languages.
The prince clarified that there was no obstacle to working women recruiting housemaids and drivers if they fulfilled necessary conditions. However, the prince urged the people to make do with locally available manpower and shun the habit of recruiting foreign workers.
The prince emphasized the need for constructive criticism of teachers and educators instead of defaming them in the media.
On a question on foreign media attacks against the Kingdom’s religious values and educational system, he said: “We are proud of this attack because it proves to the world that we are an Islamic nation.” He advised the detractors to recognize other people’s right to believe in their religions and refrain from interfering in their internal matters.
The prince said that the idea of permitting women to work in the public prosecution and criminal investigations departments is to be studied because female officials can interrogate women suspects more effectively.
On the condition that a woman should take her guardian to the Civil Status Department for obtaining her ID card, he said it is only for the confirmation of the person’s identity. Alternatively, she can produce her family register or a confirmation from her husband or father or a senior relative.
The prince also said that a committee would be appointed to study the issue of dud checks.
