Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – Saudi Arabia on Monday reiterated its determination not to allow anyone to politicize Islam for partisan purposes. The weekly session of the Cabinet, chaired by Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier, Adviser and Special Envoy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, noted that the decree issued on Friday to blacklist a number of organizations as terror outfits as well as to give a 15-day grace period for all Saudis fighting abroad to return home is part of this decision, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Council of Ministers emphasized that the decision was taken within the framework of the Kingdom's keenness to maintain security and stability as well as to fight against everything that aims at destabilizing the national cohesion and harming Islam's principle of moderation, Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said in a statement after the Cabinet session. “The Kingdom is determined to combat deviant thoughts that harm Islam and Muslims,” the statement said. The Cabinet underscored the significance of the correct understanding of the teachings of Islam, which rejects dissension, extremism and the politicization for partisan purposes. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet appealed to the international community, represented by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), to exert efforts to protect and promote human rights as well as to contain gross violations of human rights in areas of conflicts and crises. While drawing attention to reports about crimes being committed against humanity in Syria where more than 140,000 have been killed and more than 2.5 million displaced, the Cabinet renewed its demand to urgently implement the relevant decisions of the UN Security Council and HRC, and to bring all those responsible for these crimes to international justice. Appreciating Fitch Credit Rating's raising of the Kingdom's ranking of the sovereign rating from (- AA) to (AA) with a stable outlook, the Cabinet emphasized that it would enhance confidence in the national economy as it highlights the Kingdom's credit strength. Iraq's comments aggressive and irresponsible: Official Saudi Arabia on Monday slammed as “aggressive and irresponsible” accusations by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki that the Kingdom was supporting global terrorism. “The Kingdom condemns the aggressive and irresponsible statements made by the Iraqi prime minister,” an official source told SPA. “Nouri Al-Maliki knows very well, more than anyone else, the clear and categorical position of the Kingdom against terrorism... and is aware of the Kingdom's efforts to combat this phenomenon locally and globally,” the official said. “Instead of making haphazard accusations, the Iraqi prime minister should take measures to end the chaos and violence that swamp Iraq.” The official said the violence convulsing Iraq was taking place “clearly with the blessing and support of the sectarian and exclusionary policies of his government. “It is clear that those statements are aimed at turning the facts on their head, and blaming others for the domestic failures of the Iraqi prime minister.” The official said that Maliki's failings had “subordinated Iraq to regional parties who have contributed to sectarian violence unprecedented in Iraq's history.” Maliki's failings have also “endangered Iraq's territorial and national unity,” he said.
