WHO killed innocent Saudi tourists in Turkey? And who did push them to death? These are the questions that come to our mind following the killing of 12 Saudis in two terrorist explosions in Istanbul? Tens of others were injured in the attacks that took place at Ataturk International Airport and at Laili Restaurant as the new Gregorian year dawned. The terrorists used hand grenades and bullets to kill their innocent victims as they tracked them down even in toilets. The criminals even followed them while their victims jumped into Bosphorus in the darkness of night. The terrorists believed in takfiri ideology that considers opponents as infidels and that killing such infidels would take them to Paradise. If you listen to the pronouncements of terrorists you can hear similar ones from many other places. This dangerous ideology is spreading among people as a preferred culture and behavior. You can notice it in curricula, discussions in majalis, Friday sermons and Islamic lectures of some clerics. Even the content of prayers highlights this viewpoint as if it is absolutely right. In my opinion the real killers of Saudi tourists were those who did not allow them to smile in their own country and they had to travel east and west seeking glimpses of hope. They have prohibited music, cinema, theater and independent thinking of intellectuals. They also ask people to send fax messages and hashtags to prevent a musical event of Muhammad Abdu, for example, or a painting exhibition. They also try to tarnish the image of a visiting foreign intellectual whom they hate. It seems that we Saudis are living in a different planet isolated from the rest of the world, where some individuals control the feelings and dreams of others. These individuals also monitor Saudi scholarship students in different countries and punish them. They prevent these students from practicing certain activities or celebrating certain events which they consider un-Islamic. These individuals also run after working women to prevent them from earning a decent living. They try to tarnish the image of Saudi female doctors and nurses spreading different stories about them and describing parents and husbands of these workers people lacking honor. They present Saudis as a different creature. They will not allow people to commit any sin or mistake, forgetting the fact that God is Benevolent and Merciful. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "I swear by God, if you were a people who did not commit sin, God would take you away and replace you with a people who would sin and then seek His forgiveness, so God could forgive them." This is a Hadith cited in Sahih Muslim. As a result of the peculiar social situation created by these so called religious men or mutawwas, young men and women as well as the whole family leave the Kingdom to enjoy their holidays and annual vacation in foreign tourist destinations, away from people who always look at them with suspicion. They go to other countries to enjoy their beautiful moments in life. People all over the world celebrate the new year except Saudis who spend the night before the dawn of the new year eating foul and tamiz. These religious men watch on television new year celebrations around the world, which they have prohibited inside the Kingdom. The majority of Saudis are religious and they go abroad to spend their vacation with their families and friends and not to commit big sins. Such sins are found all over the world as we learn from the reports of newspapers and other public media. It's unfortunate that we continue to hunt those who exchange new year greetings. After two months we will run after those who wear red clothes. Before that they opposed people who celebrated the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh). They also attacked people who celebrated the new Hijrah year. I am sure they would not allow new methods to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. These individuals make our life hell and they will not allow us to enjoy our life. They want to kill happiness and create depression in our minds. It is ironic that these same people go to tourist resorts in Manama, Dubai and Beirut to celebrate their vacation and enjoy their life.
