RIYADH — Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif Bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh has condemned the shooting incident by a Saudi student in Florida, USA, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries of American citizens.

The minister said that the perpetrator does not represent the Saudi people and does not represent the noble Islamic religion, which is a divine religion that brought mercy, justice and goodness to all of humanity without distinction.

He added that the incident caused great pain for the Saudi people and the leadership of the Kingdom, and its people do not approve this disgraceful act.

“Saudi Arabia and the United States have long-standing historical ties since its establishment by the founder late King Abdulaziz Al Saud and the American President Roosevelt, This strongties will not be affected by such a transient incident.”

He commended the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to direct security agencies in the Kingdom to cooperate with security agencies in the United States to uncover the circumstances of the crime.

"We do not forget the noble work done by the Saudi students, Jasser Al Rakah and Theeb Al-Yami, who they lost their lives after heroically rescuing two American children drowning in the choppy waters of the Chicopee River in Massachusetts,” the minister said.

He also recalled the Saudi student Ahmed Al-Muhaimid action, when he risked his life and saved an old man from drowning in the Dockland River in Melbourne, Australia.

The Minister assured that these actions show the real nature of Saudis and their true religion.

Jasser Al Rakah and Theeb Al-Yami who died trying to save two young children from drowning have been awarded posthumous honorary degrees from the universities they were attending.

Cousins Theeb Al-Yami, 27, and Jasser Al-Rakah, 25, were studying in the United States when they joined several other people in an effort to rescue the youngsters, who were in distress in the Chicopee River in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, on June 29, 2018.

The children managed to reach safety but the two students were swept away and drowned. They died just a month before they were due to graduate.

Al-Yami was awarded a bachelor’s degree in engineering by the University of Hartford in Connecticut, and Al-Rakah a degree in civil engineering from Western New England University in Massachusetts.

They were honored for their heroism and bravery during a ceremony at the latter university, which was attended by members of their families and Saudi officials. — SG