-Caveat Lector- Arab News SAUDI ARABIA'S FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=24450 Unjust War Must Stop, Says Haram Imam P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News Staff Published on Saturday, March 29, 2003
JEDDAH, 29 March 2003 — The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah yesterday called for an immediate halt to the war on Iraq as people across the Gulf prayed for the victory of the Iraqi people against the US-British aggressors. “This unjust war must stop immediately. If it continues, it will only fuel hatred and conflicts” between nations, said Dr. Saleh ibn Abdullah Humaid, who is also chairman of the Shoura Council. Delivering his Friday sermon to more than 500,000 faithful thronging the large mosque complex, Sheikh Humaid urged the international community to stand by the Iraqi people. “Truth and justice demand that we stand by the Iraqi people,” he added. In his televised address, Humaid said that launching the war on Baghdad was a grave mistake. “This is a lost war and there will be no winners,” the imam said. Humaid also urged world leaders to respond to the calls for peace by taking effective steps to end the US-led war. “Our world today is in need of justice, charters and clear agreements, which should be followed by every country without exception. “There must be good intentions and sincere cooperation for the welfare and happiness of all,” he said. The Haram imam urged Muslims to unite and avoid differences to confront the challenges facing them. “We have to achieve real freedom by restricting our worship to God alone,” he added. Dr. Humaid stressed that the Islamic nation would not have been affected by foreign attacks if internal wrangling had not weakened it. “Muslims can regain their power by strengthening their faith in God and implementing the Shariah.” He cautioned the public about the media war launched by sections of the Western media organization and urged them to distinguish between truth and rumor. “Enemies spread false reports to create chaos and confusion among Muslims, create fear, destroy their morale and weaken their self- confidence,” he added. Humaid urged Muslims to learn from the present crisis and stand united. Saudi Arabia has opposed the US-led war on Iraq and called for an immediate end to it. The Kingdom has also rejected a military occupation of Iraq and has warned that a continuation of the war would affect Saudi-US relations. Security measures in the Kingdom have been beefed up, with police patrols guarding main streets, government institutions and shopping malls. The Haram imam also condemned the killing of innocent people in Iraq by the Anglo- American forces. “Bodies are shattered and dismembered, many people have lost their loved ones, many are missing. There is destruction everywhere,” he said. Sheikh Salah Al-Bedair, the imam and khateeb of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, prayed for “our weak Muslim brothers in Iraq and for the destruction of the aggressors.” Bedair referred to reports of Muslim women, children and the elderly being killed and injured in Iraq and urged Muslims all over the world to pray for their brethren in Iraq. Copyright © 2003 ArabNews All Rights Reserved. Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
