The attack on the US Consulate in Jeddah yesterday must surely be deplored by all rational men and women — those who support American policies as well as those who do not. A small minority of militants and extremists must not be allowed to carry out barbarities while sheltering under the banner of Islam. The welfare of the Kingdom’s guests is a religious duty of the people and leaders of Saudi Arabia. In Islam, these people are known as Al-Mustamanun. The term refers to non-Muslims who are living in Muslim lands or those who come to Muslim lands for work. Implicit in the term is the fact that Muslim leaders and people have guaranteed these people the security that is the right of each human being wherever he is and to whichever religious group he may belong.
Saudi Arabia has undertaken drastic measures to counter the threat of terrorism and reject any extremist ideology that misrepresents either Islam or Saudi Arabia. There are those who doubt the Kingdom’s resolve and fail to acknowledge the positive strides it has taken in the direction of reform and moderation. Regardless of what is said or not said, the people of Saudi Arabia are determined to fight extremism and reject terrorism in all its forms. An international conference on terrorism is scheduled for February 2005 and its objective is to send a strong message to radicals within and without that they and their extremist ideology will not be tolerated.
In speaking to a weekly Cabinet meeting, Crown Prince Abdullah said the strong links between the Saudi leadership and people in addition to the efforts of the security and military forces will defeat those who seek to undermine the Kingdom’s security and stability. In a speech to the Muslim World League, he called upon Muslim scholars to promote dialogue and critical debates. Both should aim at reaching a consensus on contemporary issues and working to improve the image of Islam. The crown prince has also urged Saudi journalists to inform young people of different ways and means of fighting extremists who are Al-Qaeda sympathizers.
Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, warned in a statement to reporters that terrorism and violence, on either the Islamic or social level, would never be acceptable. He made it clear that the people of the Kingdom would not accept the destruction of property that would damage the national economy and weaken relations with other countries.
The Interior Ministry has seized huge amounts of explosives and ammunition in its continuing hunt for — and pursuit of — terror suspects all over the Kingdom. The security forces have been successful in preventing some terrorist attacks and have killed and captured many of the terrorists and their leaders. Even those who sympathize with them have been jailed. At a meeting of interior ministers from the Gulf states, Prince Naif said without ambiguity that the confrontation of terrorism was, and continues to be, fierce and strong.
A Saudi crime specialist believes the government’s pre-emptive strategies to dry up sources of terrorist funding, as well as the growing security awareness of Saudi citizens have led to the surrender of militants. Security officials have released recorded statements made by members of terror cells to be used on prime time television broadcasts. The men all described how they had been convinced by preachers who issued edicts forbidding Muslims from working with the Saudi government, demanded that Muslims work to rid the Arabian Peninsula of non-Muslims, and declared that any Muslim who did not share these views was an infidel. One of the men said during his taped statement, “Thank God, I was jailed and God enlightened me.”
King Fahd in a statement to the Islamic Jurisprudence Academy’s meeting at its 17th session in Makkah addressed the challenges facing the Muslim world today. In his address, he said: “Changes during this age have brought the Ummah face to face with a fierce campaign against its religious faith, morals and culture, making false accusations against Islam and exploiting the deviance of some young Muslims. Even the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet (peace be upon him) have not been spared from hostile attacks.”
The king went on to point out, “Terrorist organizations have built upon the ignorance of some Muslim youth about the correct rules of the Shariah and have turned those young people into willing tools for killing innocent people.” The king also noted, “Such internal and external challenges were successfully overcome in the past. It is our hope that our distinguished scholars of jurisprudence and our theologians will overcome the challenges of the present day.”
The grand mufti of Saudi Arabia who is also the chairman of the senior ulema, Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, earlier called on terrorists to surrender and take advantage of the limited amnesty that was offered by the government. He said the amnesty was not a sign of weakness but that it aimed to correct mistakes and assist the militants to return to the right path.
The grand mufti made it clear that any Muslim who is aware of the teachings of his religion and who adheres to the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah will never involve himself in terrorist attacks or sympathize with the kidnapping and killing of innocent people. The danger, he said, is not only from the terrorists themselves but also from those who sympathize with them and make it possible for the terrorists to carry out their savage actions. The militant groups had declared war on religion and its values and they must be stopped, he asserted.
At the same time, the imams at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah continue to preach tolerance and warn against terrorism and extremism in their Friday sermons.
Sheikh Al-Talib, imam at the Grand Mosque, has emphasized that Muslims are against those who call themselves scholars, who advocate violence against innocent people and who encourage the targeting of peaceful Muslims. Such criminal acts, he stated, are contrary to the Shariah.
Sheikh Saleh Bin-Humaid, another imam, said: “Every act of sabotage targeting peaceful citizens and residents who are under Saudi Arabia’s protection is forbidden and is against the Shariah.” Muslims should not accept any justification for such behavior, no matter where it came from, he added.
Sheikh Ali ibn Abdul Rahman, imam at the Prophet’s Mosque, urged Muslims to be conscious of God and the teachings of Islam. He said: “Kidnapping non-Muslims and killing them is a heinous crime which amounts to treason against Islam and a betrayal of what it teaches.”
The Saudi Committee for Studying Terrorism and its Causes says that the terrorists in the Kingdom are becoming increasingly isolated and do not enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of Saudis. According to the committee, terrorist cells in Saudi Arabia are loosely connected and lack an ideological or methodical common denominator. This makes it more difficult to combat them but it does not mean that combating them is impossible. The committee is studying those individuals who, for whatever reason and from whatever motive, sympathize with the terrorists and those who justify the terrorists’ acts and so provide them with support, either moral or material. The committee recommends the creation of cultural, social and religious awareness among all levels and groups within the community. This is the responsibility of every single person.
Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh has four researchers who are conducting studies into the causes of terrorism. Earlier, the university came under fire when the Ministry of Interior revealed that nine of the 26 terrorists on the Kingdom’s most wanted list were its graduates. The dean of the Faculty of Dawa and Mass Communications defended the university, saying that it was important to remember that students spend only a few hours a day on its premises. The rest of their time is spent as they wish, interacting with people off the campus. Their behavior is thus shaped by their own perceptions of what they see, hear and think. He was equally defensive when it came to associating terrorism with a particular social group. He observed that highly educated people from many countries, including the US, had been involved in terrorist activities.
Another group that has been the victim of much unfavorable publicity is the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice — known as the mutawwas or the religious police. The religious police are seen as an integral part of the Saudi social fabric; their job is essentially to ensure that Islamic morals and behavior are followed in public and in private.
Admittedly, their behavior has been overzealous at times and public resentment of their perceived intolerance has prompted the Commission to establish a program aimed at upgrading and improving the qualifications of its members.
An Academy of Islamic Police at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah has been established. Its aim is to qualify students to be better guardians and role models of Islamic virtues. The curriculum does not concentrate on Islamic studies alone but also teaches both psychology and English. The academy came about as a result of the disappointment of Saudi citizens concerning the behavior and performance of the mutawwas. Many Saudis questioned the need for such a group and in an effort to restore confidence and regain public esteem, the mutawwas have turned to higher education.
In a message to students, teachers and parents, Education Minister Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed called for joint effort to expel deviant thoughts from young Saudi minds. He urged teachers not to act as religious scholars handing down rulings on various issues. The minister emphasized that the role of parents should be complementary to that of schools. At the beginning of the present academic year, Dr. Rasheed advised the five million students to be both wise and careful in making choices and to be aware of the consequences of their actions. He said that mercy should replace violence and that reason must prevail over recklessness. He noted that all citizens are partners in maintaining and protecting security and that it is the duty of every single citizen to work to strengthen national unity and to prevent evil from happening. The minister assured the public that his ministry would go forward with its reform program which would benefit the new generation as well as the country as a whole.
The Saudi media is engaged in an aggressive campaign against extremists and Al-Qaeda sympathizers in the Kingdom. The local press regularly illustrates the public resentment of extremists and Saudi society’s condemnation of targeting foreigners as well as all other terrorist acts. The media has further involved itself in the continuing debate between moderates and hardliners. The latter argue that Islam is under threat while the former believe that the intolerance advocated by a few is the real threat to Islam.
The media continues to publicize and expose certain deviant interpretations of Islam that have led some Muslims to resort to violence. The heroism of the security forces is covered extensively with commentaries and editorials reflecting public support for them and condemnation of acts of terrorism and violence. Journalists continue to promote moderation and tolerance and well-known writers are highly critical of the extremist ideology espoused by some members of society.
The President of the Saudi Media and Communications Association, Dr. Ali Al-Garni, says that the association is committed to reaching out to the West in order to clarify misconceptions about Islam and present accurate information about Saudi Arabia’s active role in combating terrorism.
The possibility of an increase in terrorist attacks continues to be a primary concern of both Saudis and expatriates in the Kingdom. Confronting the extremists and combating terrorism has become the responsibility of the entire society. The Saudi leaders and Saudi citizens are working to create harmony and coordination among the country’s cultural, educational and intellectual entities in order to spread awareness and truth and uproot every seed of terrorism.
May Allah protect this holy land and bless its people. Amen.
— Samar Fatany is a radio journalist. She is based in Jeddah.
