JEDDAH, 12 April 2006 — Interior Minister Prince Naif announced yesterday that thousands of people have been released after it was confirmed that they were not involved in any crime or terrorist act. “We have set free thousands as we keep only those people who are either convicted or sentenced by court ... and this releasing process will continue,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.
Speaking to reporters after attending a ceremony marking the release of a UNICEF report in Riyadh, Prince Naif said the launch of the UNICEF report was recognition on behalf of the United Nations of the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts.
“While speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has told Saudis and non-Saudis to sponsor children orphaned by the tsunami and other calamities,” he pointed out.
Prince Naif, who is supervisor of the Saudi Relief Committee, voiced the Kingdom’s readiness to sponsor orphans in Indonesia, Pakistan and Palestine. “We have done this before,” he added.
Asked about the fate of those detainees whose role in terrorist operations have been proved, he said, “All of them will be taken to court. We are just waiting to complete the procedures.”
He also said that the formation of the state security court would be announced shortly. The minister confirmed reports that some Saudis had provided financial and material support to Al-Qaeda terrorists. He disclosed that interior ministers of countries bordering Iraq would meet in September.
He also promised tough punishment against those who try to smuggle children into the Kingdom. “We will send back the intruders,” he added.
Prince Naif said the King Khaled Cultural Center was wrong when it allowed mixing of men and women. “We cannot blame others when they criticize wrong actions,” he said while answering a question.
