Saudi Permanent Representative at the United Nations in Geneva and head of the Saudi delegation to the United Nations Conference on Racism "Durban 2" Dr. Abdulwahab Attar said the kingdom attaches great importance to the issue of racial discrimination and works to prevent practices involving discrimination or racism. In a speech before the conference currently being held in Geneva, Dr. Attar said that the applied laws in the kingdom ban formation of organizations having racist nature or supporting racial discrimination. The applied laws in the kingdom also criminalize those financing racist activities or issuing publications or materials inciting hatred, Dr. Attar said. The kingdom bases its anti-racism laws on the rules of Islam which stresses the human being regardless of gender, color or race. Those laws are compatible with international laws on eliminating all forms of racial discrimination and other relevant international documents and agreements joined by the kingdom, Dr. Attar added. Dr. Attar highlighted efforts by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Saudi efforts in general to boost dialogue and moderation. Dr. Attar expressed concern over a number of phenomena which are considered as causes and sources of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.
