PRESS RELEASES

Its cause is moderate Islam and the clear positions
The secrets of the Western media campaign
Against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

By: Khodr Saleh
AWMC Australia

Analysts may describe the efforts of British and US media as a black comedy that would bring tears rather than laughter.  If one looks at it from another perspective, one would laugh uncontrollably.  These analysts are also of the view that it would not be too long before the hidden agendas become public.  The editorials along with many articles in papers like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, The New Yorker, the Guardian and the British Financial Times ran headlines to the effect of: “the poor Saudi support to the American campaign against terrorism.”

The worst of these was the claim by the American Journalist Seymour Hercsh reporting for the New Yorker quoting a US intelligence officer that: “The Saudi government preferred to take the negative position by insisting not to close the religious institutions that graduate terrorists who prefer to die in the cause of Allah.”  and insisted to continue to support Islamic associations that he claimed “finance the violence in Palestine, Chechnya and Pakistan.”

In this same line, the American media that claims to be balanced continues its nonsensical accusations that Saudi Arabia is a supporter of terrorism by sponsoring the establishment and construction of Islamic institutions and mosques and for its sponsorship of Islamic propagation.  They also attack the Saudi government for its refusal to hand America a blank cheque to strike at the Al-Aqsa Intifada and the resistance in Lebanon.  They also target Saudi Arabia because of its staunch adherence to its stance that a just solution must be found for the Palestinian issue and for its support for the liberation of Al-Qods, the first Qibla and the third holy sanctuary.

The banner of Islamic propagation

Despite the realisation of the American administration of the undesirable effects that such a media campaign may leave on the American Arab and Islamic relations under the leadership of Saudi Arabia and the initiative taken by president Bush to apologise for the unjust media campaign, sources close to the American Saudi diplomacy point to sensitive aspects in these relations.  A source adds that although the information in this area is incomplete, it is clear that the American media campaign reflects American displeasure at the Saudi caution with respect to some of the clauses in the plans that have been put forward by the US and its allies in order to eliminate what it calls the sources of terror.  The source clarifies that the United States after September 11 wants everyone to take a position “either with us or against us”, with no in between.  To be with us means that we will behave as if you are a part of the United States, so you will abide by all the requests of the US including the freedom to launch any action from your land and your air bases and to overlook religious, humanitarian and political givens.

The source sees that the position and the role of Saudi Arabia, as the bedrock of Islam leaves it with certain obligations and certain givens that cannot be overlooked except by those who are ignorant, conceited or foolish.  The authority that king Abdul Aziz Ben Abdul Rahman Aal Saud founded his kingdom and united his people is a religious authority that takes its roots from the Holy Qur`an and Noble Prophetic tradition.  Further, the raising of the banner of Islamic propagation that is carried aloft by the Saudi leadership is a duty that Allah honoured him with, a duty that all Saudi leaders are proud to uphold as they lead the Saudi people, the Arabs and the Muslims.  The source further clarifies that Islam as propagated by the kingdom is the moderate Islam that rejects violence, extremism or terrorism and calls to Allah with wisdom and fair exhortation as it brings justice, thankfulness and kindness.  The source continues that the kingdom itself continues to suffer from acts of terror and from every attempt to make Islam or Muslims responsible for violence, extremism or terrorism.

An opportunity for the West

On this basis, the source is of the view that the moderate form of Islam that is supported, defended and propagated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presents an opportunity for the West if they wish to understand Islam or the Muslims.  On this basis, the source sees that the West should work to remove obstacles from the path of this Islam rather than search for flaws or what it perceives to be flaws or attack Islam through false propaganda.  For this reason, the campaign by the Western media that aims to present every religious person as a terrorist, or uses the fact that some Saudi nationals are accused of the September 11 incident to attack Saudi Arabia and demand that it detaches from Islam and close the Islamic institutions is in reality, as the source indicates, no more than a ridiculous assertion.  When one examines these religious institutions one finds that over the years, more than 300,000 students graduated from them and amongst these, there is no more than a handful who harbour sympathies with exiles accused of acts of terror is no more than a calculated error on the part of the Western Media.  The call to close these institutions, according to the source, is a call that one may hear, however, no one takes seriously.  At this point, one may ask as to whether the schools that the Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh had been closed? Have the flight schools that trained the alleged pilots been closed?

The source clarifies at this point that America’s most wanted alleged terrorist, Ossama Bin Laden did not graduate from a religious institution, nor did he specialise, not for one day in his life, in any religious field nor did he study with a scholar or at a mosque, but rather, he was a graduate of the University of King Abdul Aziz, a secular institution, he graduated in engineering, a field that does not include religious studies.

The source calls for a close analysis of the reasons behind the failure of the programs to combat terrorism that the United States of America attempts to sell to the Arab world.  The problem in the American game of fighting terrorism is in the double standards that are applied by the United States in dealing with this issue as it does not recognise the terrorism that is perpetrated by states that illegitimately occupy the lands of others or the terrorism that undermines justly established governments and the right of the people to liberate their occupied land and to practice their faith.

Condemning Terrorism

This is the area of clear yet unacknowledged initiative in Saudi American relations.  Saudi Arabia condemned the September 11 act of terror against the United States through decrees issued by its highest religious and political authorities, it also offered political support and information and helped in closing the circle against terrorists.  Further, the highest Saudi religious authorities were the first to condemn suicide missions and regarded these as ugly and barbaric.  When Saudi scholars analysed the issue of plane hijacking, before any Saudi planes were hijacked, these scholars decreed that such an act is a crime and is forbidden by Islam, they made no distinction in condemning this act as to whether the passengers were Muslim or not, they in fact ruled on the basis that oppression and terror are forbidden in Islam.

Clear positions

Whilst Saudi condemns terrorism and its causes, it continues in its initiative to treat these causes by availing the opportunity for moderate Islam to be promoted as this is the only true Islam.  Saudi Arabia also does not hesitate to reject the American pressure against the Palestinian people and the American bias towards Israel.  There are clear positions that the caretaker of the two sacred mosques has declared on more than one occasion, positions that have also been articulated by the heir apparent Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.  Prince Abdullah is now regarded by international groups as a catalyst for stability, a leader who inspires the Arabs and the Muslims with his chivalry and piety, the leader who called on America to pursue justice and not vengeance in Afghanistan.  Prince Abdullah also asserted vigorously that the Palestinian issue and the issue of Al Quds are red lines in Arab politics that the Kingdom will never allow to be breached.  There is also the declaration of prince Sultan of the readiness of Saudi Arabia to boycott the Hebrew government should America insist on its blind bias towards Israel.

In concluding his summation, the source emphasises that the Western Media must depart from its bad habits that were adopted after September 11, habits that fuel the hysteria that pursues organizations and individuals whose beards are long or whose schools teach religion, these habits will never find success in combating terrorism.  He adds that this media must embark on a new reading of Islam, behaviour and morals, and its call to justice and fairness and must also analyse the reasons for the lack of trust in the Arabic and Islamic street.  The media must look at this with a view to the interest of humanity as a whole, not just their own personal interests or the interests of their allies, it may be that in this way, it can save humanity from the danger of long drawn out wars and tragedies.

*Director of the Arab World Media Center –Australia