Saudi Religious Leaders Condemn Attacks on Non-Muslims

June 15, 2004

Source: Bahrain Tribune

Wire Service: AFP

http://www.bahraintribune.com/ArticleDetail.asp?CategoryId=2&ArticleId=34849

On June 15, 2004 Agence France-Presse reported, "Six prominent Saudi religious figures strongly condemned yesterday the wave of armed attacks against non-Muslims in the kingdom which Al Qaeda terror network is intent on 'cleansing' of 'infidels'. Islam 'protects' expatriates living on Muslim soil, the ulema said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. 'Any aggression ... against any Muslim or non-Muslim' is banned by the Holy Quran and the Sunna tradition of the Prophet Mohammed, the statement said. 'Such acts sow disunity among Muslims at a time when they need more than ever to unite against nations strongly opposing us,' the six ulema warned. 'We advise all Muslims and those who are involved in such acts ... to repent and take the righteous path to stand alongside their brothers in the face of enemies and not to serve as tools for the destruction of the (Islamic) nation.' On June 4, Saudi Arabia’s highest Muslim authority issued a fatwa, or religious edict, calling on both citizens and expatriates to inform on suspected Islamist extremists engaged in terrorist activities."