The National staff
RIYADH // King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia delivered a stinging attack on religious extremists yesterday, and vowed not to let “a handful of terrorists … terrify Muslims”.
In a speech to mark the beginning of Ramadan, King Abdullah wished Muslims “security, prosperity and stability” and said Islam was a “religion of unity, fraternity and mutual support”.
But in remarks clearly aimed at ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, he said some people were “lured in by false calls … are confusing reform with terrorism”.
“Their goal is to sow discord among Muslims,” he said.
“We will not allow a handful of terrorists, using Islam for personal aims, to terrify Muslims or undermine our country and its inhabitants.
“We are continuing, with God’s help, to face and tackle this scourge.”
ISIL operates in both Syria and Iraq and aims to establish an Islamist state straddling the border. Their lightning advance in Iraq also poses a threat to neighbours such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia shares an 814-kilometre border with Iraq and Riyadh is especially concerned about the unrest.
ISIL, which considers the Saudi monarchy illegitimate, has Saudi citizens among its fighters. The group has also tried to recruit in Saudi Arabia.
On Saturday, King Abdullah had dismissed his deputy defence minister, Prince Khaled bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz, ony six weeks after appointing him. A royal decree said the decision was taken at the request of Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, who also holds the defence portfolio. No successor was announced.
In April, Prince Bandar bin Sultan was removed from his position as head of intelligence, with many speculating there was frustration within Saudi Arabia about the trajectory of the war in Syria.
There are concerns in some regional capitals that Islamist extremists fighting in Syria, and now Iraq, could return to their home countries to carry out attacks.
In May, Saudi security forces arrested more than 60 men and women, mostly citizens, who were suspected Islamist militants. Some had links to ISIL, according to Saudi officials. The group was planning to assassinate security officials and attack religious clerics, and had built a bomb-making facility.
King Abdullah instructed Saudi officials last week to take the “necessary measures” to defend it from Islamist militants battling the Iraqi government.
Meanwhile a Saudi citizen kidnapped in Yemen was freed by his abductors and returned home yesterday. Ayedh bin Jibran Mikali was released “following huge and painful efforts”, the Saudi foreign ministry said.
Hundreds of foreigners have been kidnapped in Yemen over the past two decades by tribesmen who use them as bargaining chips in disputes with the Sanaa government. Nearly all have been freed unharmed.
In recent years, however, there has been a growing number of abductions by Al Qaeda militants, with a Saudi diplomat thought to be among their hostages.
* Reporting by Agence France-Presse and Bloomberg News
