The conference on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s experience in combating terrorism, organized by the Saudi Embassy in London in cooperation with the Royal British Institute for Unified Services, resumed its deliberations here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the Untied Kingdom and Ireland.
The conference was attended by a number of diplomats, academicians and experts who are concerned with the problems of security and defense, as well as a group of pressmen.
The afternoon's session, held under the title of: Roots of Terrorism: Financing and Support, was chaired by Editor-in-chief of Jeddah-based 'Arab News' Khalid Al-Mu'eena.
Addressing the session, Dr Ahmed Turkistani, the associated professor at Riyadh-base Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University, criticized those in the West who try to link Islam with terrorism. He noted Islam, which is the religion of justice and equality, has nothing to do with terrorism. 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was a victim of terror acts even before the incidents of Sept 11, 2001, he said, and added: 'Nothing can justify the biased campaign being launched against the Kingdom following the incidents of Sept 11'. Dr Turkistani made it clear that the call of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulwahab was a reformatory call for correcting wrong concepts about Islam.
The conference's final evening session was chaired by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Addressing the session, Prince Turki Al-Faisal reiterated the keenness of the Saudi officials on dialogue with others. He noted that the Saudi officials had ordered establishment of King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, which will undertake discussion of Islamic and social issues. On the suicide operations, Prince Turki Al-Faisal reiterated his opposition to such operations, and said: 'Civil disobedience will be more effective than suicide operations'.
