Posted on 12/08/2004 10:02:13 AM PST by Trippin
JIDDA, Saudi Arabia - The kingdom's highest religious authority today condemned as a "grand sin" the deadly shooting rampage at a U.S. consulate, and local newspapers reported one of the slain assailants was a former employee of the country's religious police.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh reopened today, two days after militants stormed the U.S. Consulate in Jidda, killing five people. Four of the attackers were killed.
U.S. officials warned more attacks were possible, and the injured spoke of assailants opening fire and hunting for victims with shouts of "Where are the Americans?"
Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik said in a statement that anyone who enters the kingdom with the permission of its leaders has a promise of security and should not be attacked.
"What happened Monday regarding the storming of the U.S. Consulate in Jidda, using weapons and explosives, killing innocent souls, petrifying secure ones, and undermining security in the kingdom are all forbidden acts and grand sins," al-Sheik said.
As Saudi Arabia's most senior cleric, the mufti's words carry significant weight among Saudis, though his views normally wouldn't diverge far from the official government line.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...
I'm kinda thinking that being Muslim is a grander sin....(flame away!!!)
Well you can bet this guy is on the terrorists hit list. Next in line for a hack job.
Aw, he's only miffed because the attackers only killed Muslims and didn't get any of the infidels.
It is only funny because it is true...
ditto
I think you make an excellent point! But this nonetheless is an important statement. Arab Muslims are very obedient to their religious authorities. This certainly is an improvement over the more typical silence.
The ONLY reason the grand muffin says it's a sin is because it happened on saudi soil. Anywhere else would be just peachy so let's not start getting the warm fuzzy's that there is a sea change in attitude happening among these 7th century throwbacks.
Since he's hunting for sin, how about the way Saudis treat women in general, and men who no longer want to be Muslim anymore?
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