Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad yesterday denied allegations by human rights organizations that the Kingdom was oppressing people of other faiths and preventing them from practicing their religious rituals.
These allegations are totally untrue. The reality is quite the contrary. There are thousands of non-Muslims with different religious faiths in the Kingdom. We don’t interfere in their personal faiths, Prince Ahmad told reporters after attending a function in Riyadh.
However, the minister said the Kingdom would not allow the public practice of non-Islamic rituals. Everybody is aware of this when they come to the Kingdom. We don’t interfere in the affairs of other countries and we don’t allow anybody to do anything contrary to Islam. People are free to practice their religious faiths and beliefs at home and in private, he added.
Asked what precautions the Kingdom had taken to counter any US efforts to change regimes in Arab countries, the prince said: We have not received any information concerning such efforts. This is just gossip and we don’t think it has any basis. We depend first on God and ourselves and we have our own system of government. We look forward to a bright future, Al-Madinah daily quoted him as saying.
Prince Ahmad dismissed suggestions that the Kingdom was curtailing the role of religion in state affairs as a result of foreign pressure. Everybody is religious in our country, and we give priority to religion before worldly things. Our Kingdom is based on Shariah law.
Prince Ahmad estimated the number of Saudis arrested for ties with Al-Qaeda at a little over 200. Some of them have been sentenced in accordance with Shariah law; many others were released. Some are still waiting for a judgment, he said.
The interior minister has the right to reduce the jail sentences of these prisoners by a quarter for good conduct. Those who memorize the Holy Qur’an will also receive similar cuts in sentences from higher authorities, he added.
Prince Ahmad said the Kingdom did not face any security threat following the US-led war against neighboring Iraq. Nobody is breaking any rules. Everyone stands by the Kingdom’s leadership. Things are normal. We don’t have any information that confirms participation of Saudis in the war, he said.
Prince Ahmad said he had no information about the arrest of a German in the Kingdom in connection with Al-Qaeda. If a foreigner is detained there would have to be a genuine reason, he said.
He said efforts are under way to expand the role of women in security agencies. There are women officers now working for security, prisons and the passport department, and we will expand their role in line with requirements. Often women are better at dealing with women, he added.