Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lorne who wrote (9872)	11/4/2001 9:49:41 PM
From: lorne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 27666

Saudis convey quiet warnings By Salim Bokhari LAHORE: The Saudis have quietly but firmly conveyed to Pakistan, and through Islamabad to the United States, that if bombings were not stopped in Afghanistan during Ramazan, the Kingdom could face massive rallies and upheavals, involving hundreds of thousands of Muslims, gathered from all over the world, for the last days of the holy month. These warnings have been relayed during the two recent flying visits of the Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud al-Faisal, to Islamabad, prior to the crucial stop over of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Islamabad on Sunday. Diplomatic sources in Islamabad said President Musharraf had promised to the Saudis that he would convey these feelings in very clear words to the Americans and a slight change of emphasis in General Musharraf's tone was also visible because of the Saudi pressure. These sources say that the Saudi concerns were not unfounded as hundreds of thousands of Muslims from across the globe come to Makkah for performance of Umra. This congregation reaches its peak around 21st of Ramazan when Muslims begin the wait for the holiest of the holy nights, known as the 'Taak Raat' (searching for the night of Lailat-ul-Qadr). Lailat-ul-Qadr has great religious sanctity for Muslims of all faiths as it has been described in the Holy Quran as "a night better than a 1000 months" and that "Angels descend from heavens during that night." The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) also was summoned by God to the Heavens on that night (Mairaj Sharif), according to the Islamic belief. In these holy days, the Saudis maintain, killings of innocent Muslims in Afghanistan would not go unnoticed and there is every likelihood that a repeat of the 1988 events may take place when Iranian Hajis in Makkah staged massive protest demonstrations that led to police shootings and imposition of a ban on Iranians on performing Haj. The ban continued for many years. The mood of the pilgrims would be one of intense anger and resentment since a leading Saudi religious Shaikh, Mufti Shaikh Mahmood al-Ukla'a al-Shahidi, has already issued a 'Fatwa', soon after America started its military campaign against Afghanistan, saying that Islamic credentials of any Muslim committing aggression against brothers in faith or supporting it would be considered doubtful. The Saudis are also concerned about the fact that a large number of Afghans and Pathans, working in Saudi Arabia, may express their fury by staging protests during Ramazan. In that case, there is a strong possibility that the Saudi council of religious scholars (commonly known as Kabail-e-Ulema) be forced to issue another 'Fatwa' during the congregation of Juma-tul-Wida (the last Friday of Ramazan) declaring 'Jihad' against America and its allies. These possibilities would have serious and worldwide repercussions for Muslims and the US and could practically pitch the two main religions on a collision course, starting in fact the much feared and much talked about "clash of civilisations." Dilomatic analysts have noted that the Saudi leadership has been taking a very held back position in support of the US and the coalition. One incident quoted by these analysts is the re-telecast of a 150-minute debate originally televised by the famous Al-Jazeera channel. This repeat telecast was done by Middle East Broadcasting Channel (MBC) in Riyadh. The participants of the debate comprising highly respected religious scholars endorsed the 'Fatwa' issued by Saudi Mufti Shaikh Mahmood. These participants included Saudi member of Kabail-e-Ulema, Abdullah Mutlaq (Riyadh), Dr Mohammad Saeed Ramaddan al-Booti (Syria), Shaikh of Madina Munawara, Moosa Al-Qarni, Dr Mohammad Saleem Alawa (Cairo), President of Al-Mahajroon Movement, Umar Al-Baqri and Abdul Ali Moayyad. The participants had reached a consensus that the American-led military campaign was an act of aggression and should come to an end immediately. They questioned the supporters of air strikes against Taliban during Ramazan whether the current killing of innocent Afghan citizens was justified? They were of the view that there could be difference of opinion about policies of Taliban but it was not a time to take stock of them. "Americans are committing atrocities against Afghans and we are wrongfully hoping that they would respect the sanctity of Ramazan", they commented. The replay of such a debate on Saudi TV was a clear indication that the Saudi leadership could not step out of the mainstream religious opinion, specially at a time when Saudi Arabia would be the center stage for Muslims of the world, analysts said. jang.com.pk