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Al Jubeir: Saudi Arabia has zero tolerance for extremism

Saudi FM spekaing at the EP's foreign affairs committee in Brussels
Saudi FM spekaing at the EP's foreign affairs committee in Brussels
BRUSSELS, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- Saudi Arabia is in the midst of massive transformation through its vision of 2030 to build a more tolerant and moderate society far from any form of extremism and fanaticism, Saudi foreign minister Adel Al Jubeir said Thursday.
Speaking at the European Parliamentآ’s foreign affairs committee in Brussels, he stressed that "this transformation is important for us if we want to deal with the issues of extremism and radicalisation. We have zero tolerance for extremism and radicalism," and noted that Saudi Arabia has suspended 4000 imams of mosques in the years for inciting and preaching extremism.
"We want to introduce a culture of openness. We want to introduce recreation, entertainment so that our country becomes a normal country so that men and women can lead normal lives," said Al Jubeir.
He clarified that "we are not reforming or changing Islam. What we want to do is to return to the true nature of Islam which is an inclusive and open religion." Al Jubeir reminded the European parliamentarians that the first world revealed to Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) in the Quran was "Iqra" which means "read" and hence signifies education and civilisation, not war or clashes.
In his speech the Saudi Foreign minister referred to developments in Syria, Yemen, Iran, Palestine, Qatar, Iraq and about human rights situation in his country.
He stated that the extremism in the region began with the revolution in Iran in 1979 and it is the Iranian regime which is responsible for spreading instability by interfering in the affairs of other countries and by supporting terrorism.
"We have no issue with the Iranian people. They are moderate people and have a great history and culture. It is the regime and the actions of this regime that is extremely dangerous," he said.
Al Jubeir said Saudi Arabia along with the EU and the US is trying its best to resolve the Yemeni and Syrian conflicts through political means.
Last year Saudi Arabia turned a new page in ties with Iraq he said and noted that in the recent Iraq reconstruction conference in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia pledged USD 1.5 billion.
He said that Saudi Arabia is keen in strengthening relations with the EU and for this purpose the Kingdom recently appointed a permanent representative only to the EU.
Referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council he said "we have an issue with Qatar," but hoped that this issue "will go away soon." Al Jubeir said Saudi Arabia is in contact with international human rights groups to explain the human rights situation in his country but noted that such issues are being dealt by the courts of the country.
"Saudi Arabia does not interfere in the affairs of other countries and will not accept interference in its internal affairs," he stressed.
Al Jubeir reminded the EU lawmakers that when Muslims were being butchered in their thousands in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the nineties not one European country came to their help and Europe looked away. (end) nk.mt