Religious scholars condemn attacks on expatriates

Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Six prominent Saudi religious figures yesterday strongly condemned the wave of armed attacks against non-Muslims in the kingdom.

Islam is supposed to protect expatriates living on Muslim soil, said the ulema - the body of Muslim scholars who are the interpreters of Islam's laws and doctrines - in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

"Any aggression ... against any Muslim or non-Muslim" is banned by the Koran and the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed, it said.

Their comment came after a week in which the al-Qaeda terror group claimed responsibility for killing three foreigners and kidnapping a fourth, as their campaign of violence focused on westerners and US nationals in particular.

Al-Qaeda says it wants to "cleanse" the nation of "infidels".

"We advise all Muslims and those who are involved in such acts ... to repent and take the righteous path, to stand alongside their brothers in the face of enemies, and not to serve as tools for the destruction of the nation," the scholars said.

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• arabia
• mahammed
• muslims
• koran
• islam