The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday afternoon. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said that the enormity of the heinous terrorist crime targeted a mosque in Qudayh village is contrary to Islamic and human values, and we were all distressed by this heinous crime, stressing that the Kingdom's efforts will never cease at anytime to fight the deviant thought, confront the terrorists and wipe out their hotbeds, affirming his directives that every participant, planner, supporter, collaborator, or sympathizer with this crime shall be accountable, tried and punished, offering his condolences to the families of the deceased people in Qudayh, praying to Allah Almighty to bless their souls and a speedy recovery for the injured people. The Cabinet condemned the heinous crime targeted the mosque and resulted in bloodshed, killing innocents and violations of the sanctities of security, stability and the lives of secured citizens, considering the crime as unjust terrorist aggression from the spiteful criminals who shed the blood of Muslims and targeted worshipers, commending the achievements of the security authorities in the rapid detection of the perpetrator of this heinous crime and the arrest of most members of the terrorist cell to which he belongs and received its directives from ISIS terrorist organization abroad aiming to create a gap between the citizens of the homeland, spread hostility and seditions, and divide the unity of the society. The Cabinet expressed its thanks and appreciation to scholars, sheikhs and citizens in all regions of the Kingdom, and everyone who condemned these criminal acts from around the world, praying to Allah Almighty for blessing the souls of the martyrs and a speedy recovery for the injured people, stressing the Kingdom's firm positions on terrorism and its determination to pursue terrorists and those who stand behind them and everyone involved whether in inciting, financing or covering up. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meeting with President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan and , the telephone call received from him; the telephone call received from President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine; and the two messages received from King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and President Maithripala Sirisena of the Republic of Sri Lanka. Afterwards, the Cabinet listened to a number of reports about a number of issues on local affairs, and the latest developments on the regional and international arenas. The Cabinet appreciated the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques upon receiving President of Human Rights Commission; President of the National Society for Human Rights, a number of senior officials, and men and women interested in human rights in the public and private sectors, and his confirmation that the foundations of this country were based on adherence to Islamic Sharia, which calls for maintaining and protecting human rights, that the establishment of the government system in the Kingdom was based on justice, consultation and equality, and that the judiciary is in the forefront of the State's institutions concerned with the preservation and protection of human rights, in addition to his assertion that the regulations of the Kingdom stipulate for the independence of the judiciary to ensure justice and the right of litigation for all citizens and residents. The Cabinet extended thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for patronizing the opening of a number of medical projects at King Abdulaziz Medical City of the Ministry of National Guard in Riyadh, reflecting his attention to the health of citizens and support for medical health projects as well as commitment to achieving further progress for the homeland and the citizens' interests. The Minister of Culture and Information said that with regard to the latest development on the regional and international arenas, the Cabinet appreciated, on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, the Council's integrated achievements in various fields and comprehensive cooperation enabled its States to contribute to strengthening of security and stability in the region and the world and deservedly proved its rooted foundations and the strength of its States' correlation, commending the spirit of cooperation and interdependence among the peoples of the GCC countries and their achievements at various levels during its blessed march.
