June 3, 2005

CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH TO JUDGES: THE DEVIATING GROUP HAS HARMED ISLAMIC RELIGION AND DEFAMED IT ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE AND EVERY MUSLIM SHOULD FIGHT THIS GROUP. YOU SHOULD SHOULDER YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND ADVISE THESE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH RELIGION AND REFORM. THE CROWN PRINCE: THE HOLY QURAN IS A SYMBOL FOR EVERY MUSLIM AS IT CONTAINS THE SOUND ISLAMIC CREED. PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL REJECTS THE INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER: THE KINGDOM IS TARGETED AND TORTURE IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SAUDI ARABIA. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received at Al-Yamamah palace princes, ministers, senior officials and a group of citizens who came to greet him. The Crown Prince also received a delegation from judges of courts and Court of Grievances; Islamic Sharia professors; notaries public; students of Judiciary Higher Institute and Sharia College of Riyadh-based Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University who condemned the deviating group and expressed their support for the Saudi leadership to eradicate them. They praised the Crown Prince for his recent visit to France and the United States during which he clarified the real image of a Saudi citizen. Addressing the audience, the Crown Prince thanked them for their support and loyalty, stressing that the deviating group has harmed Islamic religion and defamed it all over the world. The Crown Prince said that we and every Muslim should fight this group, noting that the Islamic religion is innocent of them and it has no deception and deviation. He added that Almighty Allah will revenge them since they are the enemies of the religion, homeland and morality. Addressing the audience, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz added that you should shoulder your responsibility and not be silent. "You should advise these individuals through religion and reform. I request you to exert more efforts in the service of the religion , the homeland and the people." He pointed out that this country is targeted, but it has been very strong in the past, the present and the future and it will destroy anyone who tries to infringe on it. You are on the track of reality, justice and fairness, he said. On his recent trip, the Crown Prince stressed that the reputation of the Saudi people all over the world is absolutely very clear except for the deviants and those supporting them. "All the world has understood our principles, religion, belief and commitment to the religion, homeland and moderation ordained by Almighty Allah." "Thanks to Almighty Allah and the Saudi people for what has been achieved during the trip, the Crown Prince noted." The Crown Prince said that this state is strong by its religion, noting individuals of this group have been deviating and lost in a labyrinth, hoping that they will come out of it along with those who have affected by this deviating ideology. The audiences were attended by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior and a number of princes and officials. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received in Riyadh citizens who came to greet him. The Crown Prince also received the family of the late Lt. General Bandar Ibn Omar Ibn Nahil, Chief of the General Commission for Military Affairs in the National Guard. During the audience, the Crown Prince handed King Faisal Medal of the Excellent Rank which was granted to the deceased in appreciation of his efforts may God rest his soul. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz also received winners of Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Competition for Memorization of the Holy Quran at the National Guard. In a speech on the occasion, the Crown Prince said the Holy Quran is a symbol for every Muslim and underlined the importance of the Holy Quran because, he said, it contains the sound Islamic creed. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz honored a number of students who won top prizes in a Quran competition and emphasized the importance of learning the Quran to understand the true teachings of Islam. "We have to study the Holy Quran deeply to understand its noble teachings because it's the guide to truth and justice and is the symbol of every Muslim," the crown prince said while receiving the Quran contest winners. The Quran memorization contest, named after the crown prince, was organized recently by the National Guard's Islamic Guidance Department. More than 200 students took part in the event. Eighteen students emerged winners in the final rounds of the competition held in Riyadh. Prince Abdullah advised the memorizers of the Quran to take care of the holy book, saying it promotes truth and justice. "We have to exert more efforts to understand the meaning of the Quran, not just to memorize it and recite it melodiously," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the Crown Prince as saying. Prince Abdullah later inspected a vehicle prepared by the department, as part of its campaign against terrorism. The vehicle displayed Quran verses and sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) that prohibit killing of innocent people as well as pictures of terrorist attacks in various parts of the country. The vehicle was touring the city of the housing of the National Guard to be seen by all residents of the city. Dr. Ibrahim Abu Ubat, head of the guidance department, presented a number of books and audio and video recordings produced by the department to the Crown Prince. Prince Miteb Ibn Abdullah, assistant commander of the National Guard for military affairs, attended the reception. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received at the Royal Court at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh the General Mufti of the Kingdom Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, who is also Chairman of the Senior Ulema Commission and Religious Research Department and Ifta; Sheikh Salih Ibn Mohammed Al-Lihaidan, Chief of Higher Judiciary Council and other Ulema and sheikhs who came to greet him. The audience was attended by Prince Bandar Ibn Fahd Ibn Saad; Prince Saud Ibn Musaed Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor at the Crown Prince's Court and senior protocol officials. On the other hand Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to United Kingdom, made a long awaited visit to Wales. He partly retraced the steps of his father, the late King Faisal, who visited Wales during his official visit to the UK in 1919. The King had gone to Snowdon and Caernarvon as well as Swansea and Cardiff. Aged 14 at the time, he had come to Britain to take part in post World War 1 talks. Prince Turki was the first Saudi Ambassador to make an official visit to Wales in at least 20 years. In North Wales, he visited Bodnant Gardens, Conwy Castle, Portmeiron and Caernarvon Castle as well as take a trip to the Summit of Snowdon. In South Wales he visited the South Wales Islamic Center, Cardiff Castle, the Royal Mint and went down a mine at Rhonda Heritage Park. His father had also visited a mine in South Wales during his visit. Prince Turki held meetings with First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Welsh Trade International and the Welsh Development Agency. Meetings were scheduled with more than 20 Welsh companies and nearly 100 Saudi students studying at universities in Wales. I am looking forward to my visit to Wales and to meet the Welsh, as well as retracing my father s footsteps, said Prince Turki before the visit. I am told by my friends that it may well rain, but I love rain. In Saudi Arabia we never have enough rain, so when it does fall we all rush out to enjoy it. Prince Turki Al-Faisal was looking to improve trade links between Wales and Saudi Arabia during his visit. It is the first visit by a Saudi ambassador to Wales for more than 20 years. The Prince spent the visit retracing the steps of his father, the former Saudi king Faisal, who visited Wales in 1919. Prince Turki told BBC Radio Wales: "He (King Faisal) was here back in 1919 and he visited various sites in Wales, including Snowdon mountain and Caernarfon Castle. The ambassador planed to climb Snowdon during his visit "He came in November of that year and unfortunately was unable to climb the mountain than because of bad weather. "I hope to be able to accomplish what he did not." Prince Turki, who is a former head of intelligence in Saudi Arabia, also met First Minster Rhodri Morgan and various trade bodies as part of the trip. He added: "Trade is all-important. In today's world, trade is the deciding factor in relationships between peoples and countries. "The Kingdom is the largest trading partner of the United Kingdom in the Middle East. "I hope my visit will promote the Welsh part of that equation and either bring Saudi business and money to Wales or urge Welsh businessmen to promote exports and technology from Wales to Saudi Arabia. "It is important for me to get to know the Welsh people and meet as many of them as I can." Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, met with a group of businessmen in the county of Wales. During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral trade cooperation and prospects of investments which are available for Welsh businessmen in Saudi Arabia. Prince Turki delivered a speech in which he said that the Saudi economy has been progressing and shown recent advances due to population growth and increasing oil prices. He added that Saudi Arabia has the biggest stock market in the Middle East. On their own part, the businessmen expressed desire for getting acquainted with the Saudi economy. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the U.K and Ireland, paid a visit to the Southern Wales's Islamic Center in Cardiff. He met with the Director of the center, Dawood Ali Sulaiman and a number of Muslim officials there. Prince Turki told them that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will provide all available assistance to them and Muslim minorities all over the world. Also, he affirmed that Muslims reject extremism which may drive away non-Muslims from Islam. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Ambassador to United Kingdom and Ireland, conferred here today with the First Secretary of the British District of Wales Rodry Morgan. During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the District of Wales authorities, particularly in the commercial, investment and touristic fields. On his part, Prince Turki said his meeting with Wales businessmen dealt with ways to remove obstacles that might face the two sides in this regard. The Saudi deputy chief of diplomatic mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland Firaij Ibn Saeed Alowaidhi was present at the meeting. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Ambassador to United Kingdom and Ireland, conferred with the Saudi students studying in universities of the British District of Wales. During the meeting, the ambassador and the Cultural Attache Abdullah Al Nassir underlined the importance of periodical meetings with the students, noting that there are 3,000 Saudi students in Britain. Meanwhile the Saudi Embassy in London said the Guardian` newspaper has misrepresented a British appeals court decision in a lawsuit filed by three former British prisoners in Saudi Arabia in which they alleged torture by their interrogators. The Guardian had alleged that the British court of appeals on granted lawyers acting for the ex-prisoners to seize the assets of the Saudi Arabian in Britain. The embassy, in a statement, said that the court of appeals instead resoundingly rejected an application by Bindman and Partners on behalf of their clients concerning a technical question about legal costs. Sandy Mitchell, Les Walker and William Sampson, who is British-Canadian, were held in Saudi jails for more than two years and they confessed to plotting a series of bomb attacks in Riyadh in 2000 and 2001. Riyadh authorities described the bombings, in which one Briton was killed, as part of a turf war between Western gangs supplying illegal liquor to expatriates. The three were later released but on returning to Britain they went to court and retracted their confessions alleging they were made under duress. Last October, Britain's appeals court rejected the Saudi demand for blanket immunity, the Guardian said, and ordered Riyadh to pay for the legal costs of its appeal to that decision, believed to be more than 100,000 pounds ($180,000, 150,000 euros). The Guardian quoted Tamsin Allen, of Bindman and Partners as saying that her firm would start the process this week of seizing some Britain-based Saudi state assets, which include Saudi Arabian Airlines. The Embassy, however, pointed out that the three-member bench of judges of the appeals court had dismissed Bindman and Partners application and, as such, it did not bother the lawyers representing Saudi Arabia. We believe the article in Guardian misrepresents the court of appeals hearing. Once we have received the transcript of the court hearing we will be taking advice as to whether there has been a clear breach of the industry code of practice, administered by the press complaints commission, the embassy said. It is the intention of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to comply fully with the court of appeals, it said, adding that the claimants lawyers had not taken steps to enforce the order since last year. A spokesman from the Saudi Arabian embassy in London said the country would take the matter to Britain's highest court of appeal. It remains the intention of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take the underlying case to the House of Lords where it will be heard on 26th April 2006, the spokesman said. The Saudi Embassy issued the following statement: In the Court of Appeal hearing, the Court of Appeal Judges resoundingly rejected an application by Bindman and Partners on behalf of their clients (Sampson, Mitchell and Walker) concerning a technical question about legal costs incurred last year. We believe the article in today's Guardian newspaper (17.5.05) misrepresents the Court of Appeal hearing. Once we have received the transcript of the Court Hearing we will be taking advice as to whether there has been a clear breach of the industry's Code of Practice (Clause 1 Accuracy), administered by the Press Complaints Commission. We would like to point out that the three Court of Appeal Judges did "not need to trouble" the lawyers representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before dismissing the application before them. Lawyers for the claimants had not taken steps to enforce the order from last year and the amount had not even been decided until 31st March this year. It is the intention of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to comply fully with the Court of Appeal. It remains the intention of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take the underlying case to the House of Lords where it will be heard on 26th April 2006. On his part Prince Turki Al-Faisal Saudi Ambassador to the Untied Kingdom and Ireland said that the Kingdom is being targeted and torture is legally forbidden