JEDDAH, 26 February 2005 — Crown Prince Abdullah stated yesterday that Saudi Arabia would not be shaken by the smear campaigns of its detractors.
“The Kingdom will remain strong and victorious by the grace of God and as a result of the unity and cohesion of its people,” he said in remarks carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The crown prince was addressing Saudi and foreign dignitaries including intellectuals and journalists who came to attend the 20th Heritage and Culture Festival currently under way in Janadriya, 45 km north of Riyadh.
Prince Abdullah called upon Muslim scholars and intellectuals to play their role in strengthening Arab and Islamic unity. He noted Saudi Arabia’s efforts in forging unity and solidarity among Arab and Islamic countries over the past years.
“You might have heard about the allegations and accusations leveled against the Kingdom. But, by the grace of God, the Saudi people will not be shaken by such campaigns,” the crown prince told the gathering. He said the enemies would be deflated by the willpower of the Saudi people.
Top officials including Prince Miteb ibn Abdullah, assistant deputy commander of the National Guard for military affairs and deputy chairman of the festival’s supreme organizing committee, attended the reception.
In his extempore speech, Prince Abdullah said that Al-Qaeda militants tarnished the image of Islam and Muslims across the world.
“These people do not belong to Islam, nor are they Arabs or Muslims,” he said and urged Muslim scholars to defend Islam and work for the peaceful coexistence of various faiths and communities.
A total of 221 people, including 92 suspected militants, have been killed in a series of terror attacks in the Kingdom over the past two years. Saudi security forces were successful in foiling 52 terrorist operations.
Prince Abdullah told the scholars and intellectuals taking part in various Janadriya events that they are free to make open criticisms.
“This is your festival and your country ... feel free to make criticisms if any,” he said and requested them to forgive if there was any negligence from the part of Saudis.
Last Wednesday, Prince Abdullah opened the annual cultural event, which includes a variety of programs.
Some 50 scholars and experts from within and outside the Kingdom are expected to participate in a seminar titled “Knowledge and Development.”
According to a report carried by the Saudi Press Agency, more than 120,000 people have visited the festival so far. Popular souks displaying traditional products and handicrafts attracted the largest number of visitors, the agency said.
The final ceremony of the Qur’an and Sunnah contest, named after Prince Abdullah, will be held at King Faisal Conference Hall this evening. Over 1,000 students took part in the competition, one of the festival’s premier events.
Prince Miteb has said the Janadriya festival has hosted more than 125 seminars in addition to 45 lectures on regional and international topics and 40 poetic sessions over the past years.
Prince Miteb underscored the festival’s efforts in promoting women’s cultural and intellectual activities. “We have invited a large number of internationally-known political, cultural and intellectual personalities,” he said, adding that the number of foreign participants had reached 3,000.
