Riyadh: The Imam of Makkah’s Grand Mosque (Imam-e-Ka’aba) called for “unity” in the face of “fabrications” against Saudi Arabia, over two weeks after a dissident journalist’s disappearance sparked a diplomatic crisis. He told this during the Friday sermon in the Haram Shareef.
Shaikh Abdur Rahman Al-Sudais is quoted to have said, “Repeated accusations, allegations and biased media campaigns will not discourage (Saudi Arabia) from holding to its principles.” He added, “The kingdom “depends on God alone, then on the wisdom of its leadership and the unity of its sons to fight false allegations”.
He urged Saudis to believe in the facts and avoid jumping into speculation and on the basis of fabrications. He claimed that the “campaign” against the kingdom was “a provocation against the feelings of more than a billion Muslims” around the world.
International pressure is building upon Riyadh since Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared on October 2, after he entered Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Pro-government Turkish sources informed that the journalist was tortured by Saudi Hit Squad and his body was chopped. However, Riyadh refuted the claims.