|
Saudis May Bolt U.S. Amid Harassment
MANAMA, Oct 31 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Saudi Arabia may order its citizens to leave the United States amid harassment of Arabs and Muslims by U.S. officials and public, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif said Tuesday, news agencies reported.
"The Kingdom is working to put an end to this matter [harassment], and we hope it will end," Prince Naif told reporters after attending a meeting of GCC interior ministers in Manama, the Saudi daily
Arab News reported.
"But if it continues, we would certainly ask our citizens to come home, or relocate to another place. But we hope it [harassment] won't continue," the minister added.
Scores of Saudi students, patients -who had gone to the U.S.for treatment, and workers who returned to the Kingdom following the September 11 attacks have spoken of harassment, maltreatment and humiliation from both the U.S. authorities and the public.
The Interior Ministry has set up a hotline for families of Saudis detained in the United States. More than 100 Saudis were taken in for questioning over the attacks, which Washington blames on Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden. Only 12 of them remain in U.S. custody, officials say, reported
Arab News.
Prince Naif also denied that Riyadh has arrested people linked to the attacks in New York and Washington.
"We have neither arrested nor detained any person for the September 11 terror attacks," he said. "If we get any proof [linking them to the attacks], we will arrest them and they will be subjected to the Kingdom's law."
The minister raised his objection to the practice of accusing the Saudi suspects of being involved in the September 11 attacks without concrete proof.
"We did not expect the U.S. to take such an action because there is no justification in charging the Saudis who were said to be on board the hijacked planes."
He also rejected the move to brand Palestinian resistance against Israel as terrorism. "This is unacceptable. Terrorism is what Israel is practicing as it massacres innocents, children and women and wantonly destroys houses without fear of the United Nations or the international community, because of the backing it receives," he added.
Asked about the Kingdom's stance on the attempts to change the regime in Afghanistan, he said, "The Afghan peoples' choice will be the right one in this context."
He said the GCC states would issue electronic passports next month to facilitate movement of citizens between the member countries. He also said the fight against terrorism must address its motivations and root causes.
Speaking ahead of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to the kingdom, Prince Nayaf also said that Saudi Arabia does not back the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan.
Blair's visit is aimed at shoring up support for the anti-terror campaign, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"No. The kingdom is not backing [the strikes] in the real term of the word, " the prince said, as quoted in
Al-Riyadh newspaper.
"The kingdom only has a position" on the anti-terror campaign, he said, without elaborating.
The U.S.-led coalition should work to avoid bombing innocent civilians and concentrate strikes on terrorists, the minister said after arriving back in Riyadh from Bahrain, AFP reported.
But Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz said, "We feel the pain for the harm inflicted on people having no relation with the current events in Afghanistan. It is regrettable that wars do not differentiate between people," he said.
"I feel amazed how the Afghan people and interests of Muslims are being sacrificed for the sake of [saving] individuals," Prince Ahmad was quoted as saying. He added that such actions should be condemned by all Muslims.
Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the deadly September 11 attacks in New York and Washington and expressed readiness to contribute to the anti-terror campaign. But the kingdom has refused to allow its territory to be used as a launching pad for attacks against other Muslim countries.
Several Saudis have been named as suspects involved in last month's attacks. The Saudis claim that U.S. authorities now deliberately single them out, reported BBC's online news service.
"We were subjected to tremendous pressure and close searches, especially while flying between states," said Abdullah Qattan, a student.
"They even used police dogs to search our luggage, and for body searches, while they paid no great attention in searching other nationals. We felt very humiliated."
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, U.S. police investigated dozens of "hate-crimes" against people of Arab appearance.
Six people have been reported killed so far, including Egyptian Copt (Christian) in Los Angeles, a Sikh in Arizona and a Pakistani Muslim in Texas.
Many Saudis totally opposed the U.S. bombing of fellow Muslims in Afghanistan. The Saudi press has accused the U.S. of committing genocide against the Afghan people.
Washington sees Riyadh as pivotal in holding together Arab and Muslim support for the continuing campaign. Saudi Arabia is also crucial to the U.S. because of its oil.
For its part, the ruling al-Saud family is thought to rely heavily on the U.S. as the ultimate guarantor of its security, reported the BBC.
However, much of the Muslim world has strongly opposed Saudi support of the United States.
|
