Saudi clerics urge calm as village hit by IS seethes

Published May 24, 2015
Saudi men chant slogans as they march in Kudeih, in the mainly Shia Saudi Gulf coastal town of Qatif, 400 kms east of Riyadh, on May 23, 2015, to condemn the attack on a Shia mosque which left 21 people dead and 81 wounded. — AFP
Saudi men chant slogans as they march in Kudeih, in the mainly Shia Saudi Gulf coastal town of Qatif, 400 kms east of Riyadh, on May 23, 2015, to condemn the attack on a Shia mosque which left 21 people dead and 81 wounded. — AFP

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s top Sunni cleric on Saturday branded a deadly attack on Shias a bid to sow chaos, after villagers targeted in the bombing vented their anger at what they saw as the Sunni-dominated government’s indifference to their safety.

It was one of the deadliest assaults in recent years in the largest Gulf Arab country, where sectarian tensions have been aggravated by nearly two months of Saudi-led air strikes on Shia Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

Read: Deadly suicide blast at mosque in Saudi Arabia kills 21

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh told state Al Ekhbariya TV on Saturday: “This totally criminal plot aims to split our ranks and sow chaos in our country but, God be praised, it will not find a way.

The nation and society are united and under a wise leadership.” Sheikh Mohammed Obeidan, a top local Shia cleric, urged followers not to give into their anger and maintain the peace. “We’ll stand before anyone who thinks that our creed is a cause for fear or worry ... mass prayer — in a calm, orderly way with self restraint — is the right way to respond to this corrupt force and hateful darkness,” he told worshippers.

But resentment in al-Qadeeh were running high. A video posted online by local activists showed a policeman standing over the limbs of the bomber inside the stricken mosque and apparently saying “God rest his soul”, only to get screamed at by residents whose white robes were smeared with blood.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.