Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, stressed that the goal of those involved in the incident of Alkhalidiyah neighborhood in Holy City of Makkah was terrorism and sabotage, noting that they were all members of the group currently being sought.
Prince Naif stated that their presence in Makkah and Madinah showed that they didn't respect even the holy places and, far from being Muslims, they were simply using Islam as a front for their criminal acts.
In an interview with the Alyoum newspaper published today, Prince Naif said, "It is regrettable that there were Saudis in the group." He emphasised that those who induced them to plan such crimes and those who dealt with or helped them in anyway were just as guilty.
Prince Naif added that "it is clear that they target any place they can have access to in the kingdom or any individuals. Their goal is to terrorise, to sabotage and to smear the reputation and security of the kingdom."
In an answer to [a question about keeping a check on sons who sever ties with their families for a long time, only to reappear in such incidents as recent acts of terrorism], Prince Naif said, "unfortunately, the absence of the sons from certain families was not reported, or, if it was, it was reported on a limited scale.. He added that this is a major mistake of parents and some families, allowing their sons to become involved in what is happening now.
On the involvement of non-Saudi residents in the terrorist acts and possible reconsideration of the residency of non-Saudis in the kingdom, Prince Naif said, "Legal residency is not under reconsideration but illegal residency is rejected, whether in these or other circumstances. This will not change our dealing with any other nationality. A terrorist act is restricted only to the person who committed it."
Replying to a question on whether the five persons who returned from Guantanamo are still in custody, Prince Naif said, '' Yes.''
On the involvement of those returning from Guantanamo or the 17 detained Saudis returning from the Western Sudan in the latest terrorist incidents in the Kingdom, Prince Naif said that as for those returning from Guantanamo, he did not believe they were involved. But the involvement of those returning from the Sudan is probable and investigation is under way.
As regards the three detained men who issued Fatwa (religious ruling) approving suicides attacks, Prince Naif said that they are not Muslim scholars or sheikhs. Regrettably they issued Fatwa, encouraging individuals to engage in acts of terrorism and sabotage in the past. If their crime is not worse than that of the bombers, it is certainly as bad. They will receive punishment under the law. These men are not Muslim scholars or sheikhs. They are deviant, and their views are against Islam.
Source: SPA
