Senior Saudi Clerics Condemn Terrorists

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030817/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_clerics_1

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's highest religious body has condemned violence by Islamic militants and deemed helping terrorists "one of the greatest sins."

The statement from the Council of Senior Clerics came a day after Saudi authorities arrested at least 11 suspected militants and seized a large weapons cache in the southern Jazan province.

The government has cracked down heavily on Islamic militants since May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh killed 26 people, as well as the nine attackers. The bombings also touched off a public debate over whether the strict form of Islam preached in the kingdom fostered intolerance and extremism.

The Council of Senior Clerics said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency that participating in terrorist acts is "a dangerous criminal act ... punishable by Islamic law."

Terrorism, "is an act of sabotage, and an absolute aberration. (Those behind recent attacks and plots) shouldn't have been moved by corrupt statements and slogans that cause division and corrupt the nation," the statement said, adding that justifications for violence have "no religious grounds."

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sounds nice...now get those assholes off saudi "official" TV spewing

their hate.

edit for typo

For his balanced approach in describing islamic arabs .... Not EVERY arab delights in blowing other human beings into tiny bits ....

I would posit that the MOST do not support terrorism in any way .....

The room is spinning .....i think i'm going to FAINT !!

When you someone uses stories that promote negative stereotypes of arabs in general, without presenting in some form a counterbalancing view of arabs as humanistic and pacificistic ....

The steady diet of 'arabs as satan' commentary is unfair and false .... just as the stereotypes of jews are unfair and false ....

In this case: ... arabs are CONDEMNING such viciousness, in full public view and loudly .... and you said so ......

Kudos .... and thanks for the balance ....

that it took an act of wanton terrorism to hit "home"

before they decided to speak out.

n/t

for Sharon to condemn Beirut.

It is said that religious belief brings a people to know a universal morality ... one that flows from the One and imbues ALL his believers with the sense of right and wrong ....

Somehow: .... when a whole people, .. aye: .. an entire culture knows that killing is wrong, 'EXCEPT' when others dont agree with us .... then the whole notion of a top-down, universal moral code falls, and cultural relativism wins the day ....

Morals are culturaly developed, and MUST be taught to be universally applied .... In the case of Islamic society, the Imams MUST declare the immorality of terrorism .... it must be taught universally to apply universally ....

I wont at this time discuss how strident militarism against whole populations equate with 'terrorism' ....

I dont want to ruin the moment .....

It's gross puppetry by the House of Saud.