Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Shoura Council, the Arab Parliament, the Council of Senior Scholars, and the Muslim World League (MWL) joined many others in denouncing the US Senate’s position based on unfounded allegations and accusations, as well as its interference in Saudi internal affairs and the distortion of the Kingdom’s role at regional and international levels.

In a statement, read out by Secretary General Muhammad Al-Mutairi, the Shoura Council said the Saudi people categorically reject defaming their leaders — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense — or any meddling in the Kingdom’s sovereignty or harming its status.

In a letter sent to the UN Senate speaker, Dr. Mishaal Al-Silmi, president of the Arab Parliament, called on the Senate not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom and not to prejudice its leadership, sovereignty and position.

Denouncing the Senate move, the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) stated that harming the Kingdom’s sovereignty in general and its leadership in particular is a red line that cannot be crossed as far as Muslims around the world are concerned.

In a statement, MWL Secretary General Muhammad Al-Issa emphasized the Kingdom’s spiritual leadership position among the Muslims as well as its pivotal and effective role in consolidating peace, security and stability of the region and the world as well.

Earlier a statement by an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that the Kingdom would not tolerate any “disrespect” of its rulers.

“This position by the US Senate sends the wrong messages to all those who want to cause a rift in Saudi-US relationship,” the ministry said.

“The Kingdom hopes that it is not drawn into domestic political debates in the US, to avoid any ramifications on the ties between the two countries that could have significant negative impacts on this important strategic relationship,” the statement said.

The statement also emphasizes that the US Senate stand will not affect the Kingdom’s leading role in the region, in the Arab and Muslim worlds, and internationally.

“The Kingdom has and will continue to fulfill its pivotal role in the Arab and Muslim Worlds, as it holds a special place for Muslims around the world. Such a status has made the Kingdom a pillar of stability in the Middle East and the world, and a cornerstone for the efforts to achieve peace and security regionally and globally,” the statement said.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) alao rejected any attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia that disrespect its leadership, represented by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, as well as to undermine its sovereignty or diminish its stature.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, secretary general of OIC, affirmed its full support to Saudi Arabia’s statement denouncing the US Senate’s recent decision, and upheld the integrity of Saudi judiciary.

The OIC chief reiterated that the Kingdom represents a collective voice of the Islamic Ummah and has a special place in the Islamic world, not just for being the land of the Two Holy Mosques, but also because of its political and humanitarian stances.