A leading mosque preacher in Riyadh criticized those who commit acts of terrorism, saying such acts had nothing to do with the teachings of Islam. The cleric's criticism during a mass Friday prayer service came as Saudi officials hold four men allegedly tied to bin Laden's al-Qaeda group following the fatal May 12 attacks on three residential compounds. Like elsewhere in the Saudi capital Friday, tight security surrounded the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque — the kingdom's largest — where its grand mufti and preacher, Sheik Abdulaziz al-Sheik, delivered a 45-minute sermon to some 8,000 worshippers. "Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam," al-Sheik told the congregation. "Islam should not be blamed for acts of other people. People should be held responsible individually for their own acts."
| You're a cleric. You're in the fatwah business. Why don't you declare them apostate, and call for the Faithful to kill them? |
Following the service, worshipper Youssef Ahmed lashed out at the terrorists behind the Riyadh bombings. "This bombing in Riyadh was not Islamic. I am very angry that actions of some nonbelievers are being linked with the teachings of the religion of peace," Ahmed, a heavily bearded man aged in his late 40s, told The Associated Press. |