A show exhibiting the history of the late King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz will be held in Riyadh later this week. The show focuses on the history and biography of the late King in all stages of his life, from the day of his birth to his death. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Faisal Foundation, told Okaz in an interview that several historians, researchers and politicians take special interest in the late King's history because of his personality, deeds, stands and accomplishments, which captured the hearts of people both in the Kingdom and elsewhere. “If we want to portray all the details of his life, we will need scores of exhibitions,” he added. Prince Turki said the exhibition will be held in Riyadh first, then Abha, and the last station will be the Eastern Province. Following this, he added, “all the necessary arrangements will be made for the exhibition to be held in Arab countries and the world's capitals. “A series of books narrating all the stages of his life will be published soon.” He said the show, titled “King Faisal: Witness and Martyr,” will be held together with the King Faisal Symposium, which will be held at the foundation's headquarters in Riyadh, under the patronage of Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, the Emir of Riyadh. Prince Turki added that King Faisal's sons and daughters have assigned the King Faisal Center to organize this exhibition to acquaint the Saudi people, especially the young generation, with the story and history of the late King. He said the exhibition will not only project the events that happened during his life, but also his contribution and role in making these events. “As is known, the founder of the modern Kingdom, the late King Abdul Aziz, may Allah shower mercy on his abode, had assigned King Faisal at the prime of his youth to mold the country's institutions,” said Prince Turki. “He also participated along with his brothers in the emergence and formation of this great entity.” “At the age of 12,” Prince Turki said, “King Faisal participated with King Saud's brothers in the first battlefield around Hail, then he took part in all the battles of the unification of the Kingdom. “At the age of 13, he was assigned by King Abdul Aziz to represent him in the Peace Pact that followed the Great World War (WW I) in Britain, upon an invitation extended by King George V.” At this young age he was not only an envoy,” said Prince Turki, “but he also attended several study sessions in politics and its arts.” He said the exhibition covers all the stages of his life until he was martyred, pointing out that the exhibition depicts the tasks he had carried out until he became Crown Prince during the reign of the late King Saud, and became King in 1963. Prince Turki said the title of the exhibition, “Witness and Martyr,” portrays the personality of King Faisal. “He was a witness of all the events that had happened since he was 12 years old until 1972, when he was martyred.” He said King Faisal led a very humble and simple life reflected in his simple food and clothes, stressing that his brothers had learned a lot from him as he set a good example for them. – Okaz __
