Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Qatif elders express their support for King Abdullah | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz met with a number of Saudi governors, ministers, and senior civilian and military officials at the Al-Yamanah Royal Palace. This meeting was also attended by a number of scholars and dignitaries from Qatif in the Eastern Province. Verses of the holy Quran were read out at the beginning of the meeting, along with an explanation of their meeting, following which guests read statements welcoming King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz back to the country, and offering thanks for his good health.

Qatif elder, Sheikh Mansour al-Suleiman, read the following statement, addressing Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz:

“In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, peace and God’s blessings be with you. We thank God for your safety and your return to this dear homeland. You have been in the hearts of your people since you left the homeland during this long voyage, and the [Saudi] people have prayed in the Grand Mosque for your recovery and good health.”

He added “we thank God for granting the prayers of the [Saudi] citizens and your safe return to your homeland and your good health which will allow you to accomplish the tasks that have been set before you.”

Sheikh Mansour al-Suleiman also told the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz “Since the founding of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz – may he rest in peace – his major concern, and his noble sons who followed after him, have primarily been concerned with the welfare of their citizens and the achievement of their desires and aspirations. We do not want anything other than your presence, which protects the Kingdom’s security and safety. You are the safety valve of this nation, and we ask God to help you to complete the path that was started by founder King Abdulaziz to realize the wishes and aspirations of your people. Peace and the blessings of God be with you!”

At the same meeting Sheikh Nasser Bin Turki Bin Daraan, of the Qatifi Daraan family, also publicly swore allegiance to the Saudi monarch, calling on God protect the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. He said “we pray to God to guide your steps and aid you to serve the Kingdom and its people. We pray to God to protect our homeland and its security and stability under your wise rule” adding “May God protect our homeland from all evils.”

Sheikh Nasser Bin Turki Bin Daraan also publicly disowned a member of the Daraan family, Muhammad Bin Maeed Bin Badah Al-Dossari, who has been described as a Saudi dissident living abroad.

He told the King “we hereby announce that the deviant Muhammad Bin Maeed Bin Badah Bin Saad Bin Muhammad Bin Daraan Bin Saad al-Waadani al-Dosari is no longer a member of the Daraan family” adding that “the Daraan family has sacrificed lives in the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King Abdulaziz. Our family participated in a number of battles along with King Abdulaziz and this renegade [al-Dosari] who has deviated from the right path is no longer a member of our family.”

Qatif is a historic, coastal oasis region located on the western shore of the Arabian Gulf in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and is known to host the largest Shiite community in predominately-Sunni Saudi Arabia.