RIYADH, 4 August 2005 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday vowed to work for justice for all and promote the welfare of his people in his first address to the nation after accession to the throne.
“I pledge to God, and then I pledge to you that I take the Holy Qur’an as my constitution, Islam as my program and to work for justice and serve all citizens without discrimination,” he said in a speech broadcast on state television.
King Abdullah, who received pledges of allegiance from citizens yesterday, asked the Saudi people “to help me and support me in carrying out this responsibility.” He also urged Saudis to provide him with necessary advice and pray for him.
Saudi Islamic scholars, tribal chiefs and officials pledged allegiance to Abdullah in a ceremony seen as a public endorsement of the new king, while foreign dignitaries including British Prime Minister Tony Blair offered their condolences over King Fahd’s death.
Other foreign leaders and dignitaries who came to Riyadh to offer last respects for the late king were: British heir to the throne Prince Charles, French President Jacques Chirac, Swedish King Carl Gustaf XVI, German President Horst Koehler, Swiss President Samuel Schmid, Malaysia’s King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka.
The White House announced that Vice President Dick Cheney would lead a US delegation to Saudi Arabia after President George W. Bush telephoned Abdullah to offer his condolences and congratulate him on his accession.
In his address, Crown Prince Sultan said Saudi Arabia would go ahead with its development programs under the leadership of King Abdullah. He also commended King Fahd’s great services to the nation and his efforts for the expansion of the two Holy Mosques.
The Kingdom’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has called on citizens to rally behind King Abdullah and his crown prince. He said the unity of Saudis under their new leadership would strengthen the Kingdom.
Thousands of loyal Saudi citizens arrived from all over the Kingdom and poured into the Ruling Palace yesterday afternoon to offer allegiance to their new king in a demonstration of public harmony and transparency.
They came from everywhere; from the far tribes of Asir, south of the Kingdom to the areas north of the Kingdom, and from the Makkah region. All of them were waiting eagerly to get their chance to meet King Abdullah and shake his hand, announcing to him their allegiance to him as their new king.
Hundreds of members of the royal family, tribal leaders, as well as dozens of ministers, Shoura Council members, senior officials in National Security, mayors of cities, heads of several deputy ministries, heads of government agencies, members of the Supreme Ulema Council, and even CEOs of private companies in the Kingdom all made the trip to Riyadh yesterday for the historic allegiance ceremony.
Special buses drove Western and Arab journalists from all over the world to the Ruling Palace from the Ministry of Information. Some citizens were surprised to see female journalists conducting interviews in the palace, a sight they have not been accustomed to in Saudi Arabia.
President of the Shoura Council Sheikh Saleh Bin Humeid was seen in the palace with other sheikhs and religious figures. He said that the whole of Saudi society felt sorry over the loss of King Fahd, who ruled the country for 24 years.
“Saudi Arabia during the reign of King Fahd witnessed huge industrial, economic, educational, and health development on all levels,” he said.
“His wisdom has embraced us all. And it was just a couple of months before he passed away that he gave directives to expand the Shoura to 150 members so it could have greater powers,” he added.
Abdullah Omar Naseef, deputy head of the National Dialogue Forum and the former secretary-general of the Muslim World League, expressed his condolences to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi people, and the Islamic and Arab world over the death of King Fahd.
He said that the most important thing the late king had done for Islam and Muslims was the expansions of the Grand Mosques, which took place during his reign and were the largest expansions to the sites ever.
Naseef said the citizens paying allegiance to their king was religiously correct and is considered a bond of loyalty and obedience between the ruler and citizens.
Gen. Saeed Al-Qahtani, head of Public Security in the Kingdom, said King Fahd left behind many accomplishments and expressed his sorrow over his death.
“King Fahd sought to improve security operations all over the Kingdom and devoted his time and efforts for the prosperity of security bodies and the welfare of all citizens and residents,” he said.
Minister of Education Abdullah Al-Obeid said: “The loss of a great leader and a pioneer of the country hurts inside. But what is relieving is that he dedicated his life for his country, his people, and his religion. People will continue to pray for him for his accomplishments in the country.”
“We have come here today to pay our allegiance to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and this shows the smooth transparency in succession,” he added.
General Manager of the King Fahd Security Academy Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman ibn Abdul Aziz, said on behalf of all the staff of the academy, officers, teachers, and employees, he would like to express his deepest sorrow on the death of King Fahd.
“Our prayers go out to King Fahd as we ask God to rest his soul in peace. He dedicated his life to serving his country and his people and his contributions to the Islamic world were numerous,” he said. “We ask the Almighty to protect King Abdullah and his deputy Crown Prince Sultan,” he added.
Lt. Gen. Talal Angawi, head of the Border Security in the Kingdom, said that the late King Fahd supported all efforts aimed at border security.
“During his reign many border treaties were signed with neighboring countries,” he said. Angawi said King Abdullah would complete the legacy of King Fahd and wished him success and good health.
Fahd Al-Shammari, a Saudi citizen who has been living in Riyadh for the past four decades, said this was the fourth time he was paying his allegiance to the leaders of the country. Earlier, he had paid his allegiance to King Faisal, King Khaled, King Fahd, and now King Abdullah.
Another citizen, Ali Abdullah Al-Shehri, could not get a reservation to Riyadh on the national airline and decided to drive more than eight hours to reach Riyadh yesterday morning. Representing his tribe Al-Obeid, who is from Abha, said it was the first time he had paid allegiance to a leader.
“The representative of our tribe who had paid allegiance to King Fahd passed away many years ago; I am now taking his place,” he said. Al-Shehri said loyalty and love for the leaders ran in his family as his father was one of the tribal leaders who paid allegiance to the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz, over 80 years ago.
Muhammad ibn Othman Bani Hazzan, a citizen who works in the governorate of Riyadh, said this was the first time he had paid his allegiance to the Saudi leadership.
“I came here today on my own free will and as a Saudi citizen to announce my allegiance and my tribe’s allegiance to King Abdullah, his deputy and the rulers of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Nasser Al-Subaiei said he came to the Ruling Palace to pay his condolences and respect to the loss of King Fahd and to pay his allegiance to the new king.
“I came here to express my condolences on the death of King Fahd. His loss is a loss to the entire Arab and Islamic world, and not just to Saudi Arabia. Abdullah is the best successor to a great leader. We announce to him our loyalty and our obedience,” he said.
Sami Angawi, a well-known historian who is from Makkah, arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday night so he could get a chance to meet King Abdullah. “Yesterday (Tuesday) was a sad day for all of us. But today we are hopeful,” he said.
Angawi said paying allegiance to a new leader was part of the Saudi system. “This is the way it has always been since the days of the Prophet (peace be upon him). And this is the way it is expressed.”
