Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Gulf and Arab countries, international and local organizations strongly condemned Thursday's terrorist bombing in an Abha mosque that claimed the lives of several security men. Bahrain stressed that such a crime has nothing to do with any religion and is completely contrary to all moral and humanitarian values. It also expressed its condolences and sympathy to the Saudi people and families and relatives of the martyrs, wishing the injured in this tragic incident a speedy recovery. Kuwait expressed its condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing. An official source at the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the heinous crime is in continuation of a series of hateful terrorism that seeks to undermine the safety and security of the Gulf Arab countries. It said sinister efforts in that direction will end in failure. The statement said Kuwait stands firmly behind Saudi Arabia and supports all actions it takes to maintain its security and stability. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, received a call from King Muhammad VI of Morocco in which he condemned the bombing. Strongly condemning the bombing, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) described the bombing as an ugly act that is counter to all Islamic and human values and principles. Dr. Abdullateef Rashed Al-Zayani, GCC secretary general, expressed full support to the Kingdom in all the measures it takes to protect its security and stability and guarantee the safety of its citizens as well as combat terrorist groups "that have abandoned all human values and principles." Similar messages were also received from Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Tunisia and Al-Azhar in Cairo. The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) also condemned the bombing with its chairman Sheikh Tahir Mahmood Al-Ashrafi assuring the Kingdom that scholars and the people of Pakistan are with it to counter any conspiracy against the security of the country that is home to the Two Holy Mosques. Sheikh Abdulrahman Abdullah Al-Sanad, president of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia), denounced the terrorist bombing. "It is a great crime that targeted the Kingdom's security men who are tirelessly working in the service of the nation, its security and the comfort of the citizens. This heinous act shows the wickedness of its perpetrators as they targeted the security men while they were praying in the mosque. Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh, grand mufti of the Kingdom and chairman of the Board of Senior Ulema, said the bombing was a shameful and ugly criminal act that is not acceptable to any human being or religion. Speaking to Al-Ekhbariya TV Channel, Al-Asheikh beseeched Almighty Allah to make paradise the abode of the martyrs and wished the injured a quick recovery. He said this act indicates the lack of belief of the perpetrators as they killed worshipers while they were in a state of peace of mind praying. He added: “This will only increase our cohesion and strength as well as bonds with our leader. These events will not wean us away from our principles. We will be even stronger and we will cooperate with one another in doing good and being God-fearing.” Dr. Waleed Muhammad Al-Sam'ani, minister of justice and chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, said targeting security men in the mosque is a criminal act that is not permitted by any religion or mind. He said the act has sprung from sick hearts that are full of hatred against Islam, worshiping Muslims and the bounties of security and safety enjoyed by the Kingdom. The Muslim World League (MWL) in Makkah condemned the terrorist act. Its Secretary General, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulmohsin Al-Turki, said the terrorist crime was carried out by a group that has rebelled against the religion and for whom taking innocent lives seems only a trivial matter. Dr. Al-Turki expressed regret that this rebellious group is continuing its criminal acts and doing evil on the earth, hence, digressing from the teachings of Islam. He called on the Kingdom's people, ulema, thinkers and intellectuals to stand by their leadership.
