Saudi king offers solutions

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia.

At 85 years of age, Saudi King Abdullah remains a man full of political ambitions. After only recently succeeding his long-ailing brother, Fahd, as king, Abdullah now is running for the job of leader of the Arab and Islamic world.

Vowing to fight the endemic terrorism plaguing parts of the Islamic world, and which shook the kingdom two years ago when homegrown terrorists unleashed nationwide violence, the Saudi king decided action was far better than inaction.

In fact, Abdullah adopted the project of another king, also named Abdullah. Jordan’s King Abdullah launched an initiative earlier this year to unify various Muslim schools of thought and ban fatwas, or religious edicts, from just about anyone for political reasons.

With the aim of curbing radicalism in Islam and addressing a slew of social, economic and political ills affecting the Islamic world, the Saudi king convened an extraordinary session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference for a two-day working session in Mecca, Dec. 7-8.

“The recent manifestation of extremism, violence, and terrorism that are plaguing Muslims and non-Muslims alike has alarmed Saudi Arabia and made it clear that an endemic problem currently exists in the Islamic world,” said the king in a “highly confidential” policy document made available to United Press International. Nawaf Obaid, a Saudi security adviser, told UPI, “King Abdullah realizes that at no other time in history has the Islamic world been so leaderless.”

At the end of the two-day Mecca summit, a “Conference Policy Document” was released in which the Saudi king outlined several points to address issues affecting the Islamic world:

• Islamic solidarity and joint Islamic action: One summit goals will be creating an Islamic Relief Fund for Natural Disasters. This is a result of the rest of the world’s mostly lethargic response to the devastating earthquake in Pakistan a few months ago.

• Creation of an Islamic Poverty Fund: Believing richer Islamic countries — such as Saudi Arabia — should help rescue of poorer Muslim nations, the Saudi king hopes the fund will take from the rich to assist the poor.

• Conflict prevention and confidence-building: The king believes the OIC should lead in building institutions and dialogue to improve relations between Islamic countries.

• New measures for strong support of political and human rights for Muslim minorities in non-IOC countries: The king wants to protect Muslim minorities in several countries. Abdullah wants the OIC to pressure governments to allow Muslims in those countries to live without fear of retribution.

• Initiatives to aggressively confront extremist threats and foster open dialogue among other religions and civilizations: “Killing and terrorizing innocent people and the destruction of property are not condoned by Islam,” said Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Ashaikh, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the Council of Senior Ulema.

King Abdullah proposes “a zero-tolerance” toward purveyors of hate and urges an open and respectful dialogue among the world’s faiths and civilizations.

• Eradication of all forms of terrorism: Global terrorism represents one of the greatest threats to both the Muslim and non-Muslim nations. Building on the kingdom’s success in its war on terror, the king would like intelligence and expertise to be shared across the Islamic world to fight radical politicized Islam. King Abdullah believes that joint action can eradicate the “scourge” of terrorism.

• And, finally, the king wants stronger measures against Islamophobia in non-Muslim countries: Many Muslims have been the target of ethnic hate since the horrific terrorist attacks against New York City and the Pentagon. The king has given priority to carrying out policies that address this concern.

The Saudi king believes “a vast majority of Muslim countries today face political, economic and social underdevelopment that has evolved into a major crisis.” The king is concerned by the “diminishing position of Muslims in the international arena.” He referred to the Arabs’ and Muslims’ inability to prevent the U.S. invasion of Iraq war as well as to influence establishment of peace in the invasion’s aftermath.

Calling for unity among Muslims, Abdullah lashed out at al Qaeda terrorists for “unleashing evil and corruption on Earth” and urged Islamic leaders in Mecca to fight terrorism jointly.

Abdullah said, “This is a time when the Muslim world is facing unprecedented challenges.” He wants to tackle these problems.

Claude Salhani is international editor for United Press International.