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United in grief, citizens across Saudi condemn terror attack

May 30, 2015

Riyadh, May 30: In widespread condemnation across Saudi society, prominent citizens reacted strongly on Friday to yet another terror attack in which a suicide bomber blew himself up near a mosque in Damman leaving four people dead.

terror attack

Governments and top officials from different countries have expressed their deep sorrow at the fresh suicide bombing that came exactly a week after a bomber killed 21 people and injured over 100 in a mosque in Qatif.

Reacting to the terror attack, Mohammed Alkhnessi, a member of the Shoura Council, said: "We really feel sorry for what happened today and last week exactly at the same time of prayer in the mosque; this is a deeply disturbing and destabilizing act of terror."

"The perpetrators of these terror attacks have only one agenda which is to disturb the peace, and I am sure they will never succeed as the government and security establishments are fully prepared to thwart and ready to follow up with the appropriate actions," he added.

He addd: "We have full faith in our security systems and administration to maintain peace and stability, and bring the perpetrators of such a heinous crime to book."

He maintained that IS, or the so-called Islamic State, once again took responsibility for the attack, which is disturbing, and it is time to stop the growing menace.

Sadaka Yehia Fadil, a senior member of the Shoura Council, told Arab News: "We are fighting terrorism and are part of an international coalition against the menace; in fact we are one of the most successful states fighting terrorism, dealing with all threats and very successfully thwarting any such attempt by extremists."

He added that the Ministry of Interior and security agencies are well prepared and handling the issues appropriately one after another.

He exuded confidence: "I am sure the perpetrators of the terror attack in Dammam will not be spared and the culprits will be arrested and punished sooner rather than later."

He underlined that there is need to identify patterns and apply pre-emptive tactics against such a ruthless act of terrorism aimed at disturbing the peace.

"We very strongly condemn the act of terror. Islam is a religion of peace and completely prohibits violence and extremism in the strongest words. Those involved in such activities are ill advised and wrongly informed on Islam. They cannot be Muslim — they are misled people with very wrong interpretations of Islam," he said.

Mohammad Al-Ameen Khatari, head of the Islamic Affairs Bureau in Madinah, also expressed deep anguish and sorrow over the killings in Dammam and expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to families of the victims of this heinous crime.

He said: "This terror attack is an attempt to continue the hate campaign by the perpetrators of terrorism and aims to destabilize this peaceful country by creating a sectarian divide. They will not succeed at all. We, the people, are with the state to ensure that.”

He added that all preachers at mosques across the Kingdom have strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the Eastern Province.

Saud M. Al-Suwaileh, who works with the Ministry of Finance as an economist and the former manager of the US-Saudi Business Council, told Arab News: "They are evil and simply trying to disturb peace by seeking attention; this is not going to happen and they will be punished."

He also blamed Iran for playing dirty games in the region by disturbing the peace.

"Our government is ready to thwart any such attempt," he said.

Affirming full faith in the security systems and the government, Zeyad Abdullah, a citizen, said the “state and its machinery is proactive to ensure safety and security. No matter who violates it, the culprits will be punished for sure. So let us all be one with the government to defeat terrorism.”

The Pakistan Ulema Council also condemned the terror act. Sheikh Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, president of the council, said: "This is a plan from external regional elements to destabilize peaceful coexistence in the Kingdom."

The council also pledged support to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in the fight against terrorism.

The Kingdom of Bahrain denounced the Anoud Mosque terrorist attack, describing it as an act of cowards.

Notably, the government condemned the attacks as terrorism and Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh called the terror attack a “criminal” act against the “sons of the homeland.”

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News Network
March 18,2020

Dubai, Mar 18: Emirates, one of the world's biggest international airlines, has asked pilots to take unpaid leave to help it mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic that has shattered demand for global travel.

"To this end you are strongly encouraged to make use of this opportunity to volunteer for additional paid and unpaid leave," the airline said in an internal email to pilots, seen by Reuters.

Emirates earlier this month asked some staff to take unpaid leave, although at that time it was not available to pilots.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Mount Arafat, July 30: Muslim pilgrims converged Thursday on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat for the climax of this year's hajj, the smallest in modern times and a sharp contrast to the massive crowds of previous years.

A tight security cordon has been erected all around the foot of the rocky hill outside Mecca, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy.

Pilgrims, donning masks and observing social distancing, were brought in buses from neighbouring Mina, state television showed, as Saudi authorities impose measures to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.

They were subject to temperature checks and attended a sermon -- which state media said was translated into 10 languages -- before they set off on the climb to the summit for hours of Koran recitals and prayers to atone for their sins.

The scene was strikingly different to last year's ritual when a sea of pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat, marshalled by tens of thousands of stewards in a bid to prevent any crushes.

After sunset prayers, pilgrims will make their way down Mount Arafat to Muzdalifah, another holy site where they will sleep under the stars to prepare for the final stage of hajj, the symbolic "stoning of the devil".

It takes place on Friday and also marks the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice.

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, is usually one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

But only up to 10,000 people already residing in the kingdom will participate in this year's ritual, compared with 2019's gathering of some 2.5 million from around the world.

"You are not our guests but those of God, the custodian of the two holy mosques (Saudi Arabia's King Salman) and the nation," Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten said in a video released by the media ministry on Wednesday.

Security cordon

A security cordon has been thrown around the holy sites to prevent any security breaches, an interior ministry spokesman said.

Riyadh faced strong criticism in 2015 when some 2,300 worshippers were killed in the deadliest stampede in the gathering's history.

But this year, those risks are greatly reduced by the much smaller crowd.

The pilgrims have all been tested for the virus, and foreign journalists were barred from this year's hajj, usually a huge global media event.

As part of the rites completed over five days in the holy city of Mecca and its surroundings, the pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat after spending the night in Mina.

A district of Mecca, Mina sits in a narrow valley surrounded by rocky mountains, and is transformed each year into a vast encampment for pilgrims.

They began the hajj on Wednesday with their first "tawaf", the circumambulation of the Kaaba, a large structure in Mecca’s Grand Mosque towards which Muslims around the world pray.

The Kaaba is draped in a black cloth embroidered in gold with Koranic verses and known as the kiswa, which is changed each year during the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims were brought inside the mosque in small batches, walking along paths marked on the floor, in sharp contrast to the normal sea of humanity that swirls around the Kaaba during hajj.

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Agencies
July 22,2020

Dubai, Jul 22: Saudi Arabia's Minister of Haj and Umrah, Dr Muhammad Saleh Benten, has inspected the facilities and arrangement made for the Haj pilgrims in Makkah and the holy sites.

Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency after the tour, the minister said that the Saudi government has worked out unprecedented plans for the running of this year's Haj, enabling pilgrims to perform their rituals in ease and comfort.
 
This year's Haj, which has been scaled back dramatically to include only around 1,000 Muslim pilgrims as Saudi Arabia battles a coronavirus surge, will begin on July 29, authorities said Monday.

"The comprehensive, foolproof plans will be implemented by the security, health and service agencies. The plans include the provision of the best health services, and the most appropriate crowd control, strictly in line with the precautionary measures and preventive protocols, formulated by the Ministry of Health to ensure full safety of pilgrims from the coronavirus pandemic," Dr Benten said.

According to the Saudi Gazette, Benten emphasised the eagerness of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to implement the Haj operation by following the highest health standards and precautionary measures in order to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

Earlier, the minister inspected the arrangements and facilities for the reception and accommodation of pilgrims at Four Point Hotel in Makkah.

He was briefed by ministry officials with regard to receiving and accommodating pilgrims during the period from 4 to 8 of Dhul Hijjah before leaving for Mina.

Benten also visited the tents in Arafat and the facilities in Muzdalifah.

After that, his inspection tour visited the tent city of Mina, where he viewed one of the towers designated for the housing of pilgrims. 

According to the Saudi Gazette, he was impressed with the services and facilities being arranged for the accommodation and serving of food for the pilgrims.

To complete his visit, the minister watched a visual presentation of the mechanism for providing logistical services for the pilgrims during their travel from accommodation to Jamarat to undertake the stoning ritual.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Bin Wasl Al Ahmadi, assistant commander of the Haj security forces for the Grand Mosque and its premises, said on Tuesday that the security plan for this year's pilgrimage prioritises on organisational, security, humanitarian and health aspects.

He said the Haj security forces have installed entry and exit mechanisms from the Grand Mosque during Haj, with passages for pilgrims extending from the southern and western premises of venue as well as special passages around the circumambulation and Saey areas.

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