Salman vows to hit extremists with an ‘iron fist’

Makkah : Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Tuesday vowed to hit back with an “iron fist” at religious extremists who target the country’s youth, in a speech marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

“The biggest challenge facing the Islamic nation is to preserve real wealth and hope for the future of the young who face the risk of extremism and malicious calls pushing them to abnormal behaviors and practices…” Salman said. “We will strike with an iron fist those who target the minds and thoughts and attitudes of our dear youth,” the King added.

The speech was given in Salman’s name by the information minister and carried by the official Saudi Press Agency on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr on Wednesday. The holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The King addressed the citizens and Muslims everywhere on the occasion of blessed Eid Al-Fitr. “I wish you a happy new year and appeal to Allah Almighty to accept our fasting, worship and good deeds. We thank Allah Almighty to have graced us with the divine religion of Islam; the religion of moderation, amicability and peace. We also thank Him to have enabled the Umrah performers who made their way to the Grand Mosque (in Makkah) and the visitors who made their way to the Prophet’s Mosque (in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah) to easily and peacefully perform their rituals and to have enabled us to complete the fasting and worshipping in the holy month of Ramadan.

“Furthermore, we thank Him to have honored us to serve the two holy mosques and the worshipers. We thank Him, also, for the grace of the blessed Eid Al-Fitr as a manifestation of solidarity, kindness and sympathy among the sons (and daughters) of the Islamic nation (Muslim Ummah), an expression of their unity despite different places and languages. We appeal to Allah Almighty to complete our jubilance by clearing the clouds of dispute, difference and sedition looming over the Muslim nation and the disappearance of their ordeals and pain.”

The King, in his address, said: “The differences and sedition witnessed by the Muslim world today, necessitate that all of us exert the utmost efforts to unify our ranks and work together to solve the problems of the Muslim nation so as to achieve victory for its causes. However, the biggest obstacle and challenge facing our Muslim nation is how to keep its youths, the real wealth and hope of future, away from the dangers facing them, particularly extremism and violence and keeping them away from the followers of the misleading evil calls that cause them to behave oddly and strangely.

“Such conducts contradict the upright innate character, the principles of our Islamic religion and the pillars and values of our Islamic societies. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is determined, God willing, to strike with an iron fist whoever targets the minds, ideas, thoughts and trends of our (dear) youth. The society should be aware that it is a partner of the State in its efforts and policies to counter this deviant thought, as we, all of us, follow the teachings and instructions of our Islamic religion which forbids bloodshed and makes public funds inviolable.

“We are honored to serve Islam and stand by the Muslims , noting our position in the heart of the Muslim world, our graced role of serving Islam and supporting Muslims all over the world, particularly their legitimate causes foremost of which is the Palestinian cause.”

King Salman said: “On the eve of blessed Eid Al-Fitr, I call upon all of you to remain optimistic and hopeful on a bright and better future and a better tomorrow, thanking Allah Almighty for the hidden and visible bounties and blessings. We appeal to Him to lead us to do deeds for the good and betterment of our Ummah, to protect our country and all Muslim countries from harm and evil and have mercy on the souls of our martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their religion and nation. We also pray for mercy upon the souls of all dead Muslims. And wish all a happy new year.”