On behalf of Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, Prince General Mite’b bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Higher Committee for the 18th National Festival for Heritage and Culture, today patronized the inaugural ceremony of the Festival’s cultural activities.
At the venue, he was received by Dr Abdulrahman bin Sbait Al-Sbait, Undersecretary of the National Guard and Chairman of the Festival’s Executive Committee, and a number of officials.
Addressing the ceremony entitled “This is Islam” on behalf of the Crown Prince, Prince Mite’b delivered a speech in which he stressed that highlighting the truth about Islam and its goals in the interest of all mankind, and dispelling suspicions propagated by certain sections of the Western media is the collective responsibility that should be shouldered by Arabs, Muslims and all honest people of the world.
The speech emphasized the importance of awareness, wisdom, dialogue, the renunciation of unfruitful argument, and non-coercion in religion.
The speech conveyed the wish that the noble meanings of the eternal message of Islam be explained, and that Islamic teachings pertaining to goodness, love and tolerance be propagated. It pointed out that Islam renounces extremism, and that it is the symbol of fraternity and reconciliation.
It urged Muslims and others to pronounce the truth wisely and to shoulder this responsibility heedfully.
Prince Mite’b bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz inaugurated an Exhibition of cultural activities entitled “Scientific, Miraculous Nature of the Holy Quran”.
In a press statement, Prince Mite’b emphasized the importance of confronting suspicions and doubts raised about Islam, stressing that it is the religion of tolerance and moderation.
Prince Mite’b said that the Crown Prince’s speech at the Festival today called for a correct understanding of Islam, and emphasized the importance of Muslim unity in the truth of Islam, and rejection of extremism and violence that emanates from ignorance of Islamic teachings.
He expressed the wish that Westerners join in dialogue to come to know Islam and its teachings of tolerance, fraternity and rapprochement.
Source: SPA
