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Saudi Cabinet Says Rohingya Muslims Face Untold Terror, Bloody Violence | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Almost 70,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since October (AFP)


Jeddah- Convening on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s National Cabinet condemned terrorist massacres, brutal attacks, and genocide committed against the Rohingya Muslims, in Burma. The persecuted minority has been the subject of systematic ethnic cleansing as Rakhine State forces destroy many villages and homes.

The Cabinet renewed its appeal to the international community to take urgent action to stop violent acts and to give the Muslim minority, in Myanmar, their rights without discrimination or racial classification, pointing out that the Kingdom was among countries that supported the Rohingya, in international forums, the United Nations Human Rights Council and donated $50 million through health and educational rehabilitation programs, as well as hosting them in Saudi Arabia since 1948.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon.

At the outset of the session, the King positively reviewed the journey Hajj pilgrims completed in Saudi Arabia and the ease at which the rituals were performed, safely and securely.

Every year since the Kingdom’s conception, it strived to push all efforts of continuing development according to an integrated system aiming to further facilitation for pilgrims and their safety.

Minister of Culture and Information Awwad Al-Awwad said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the Cabinet also condemned terrorist attacks in a number of countries over the last few days, and reiterated the Kingdom’s firm position of denouncing terrorism and standing by the countries affected by such attacks.

The Cabinet lauded the Presidency of State Security for its recent arrest of a terror cell affiliated with ISIS that plotted to target headquarters of the Ministry of Defense in Riyadh.

At the outset of the Cabinet session, King Salman thanked everyone for the successful operation of a hassle-free Haj.

“We praise and thank Allah Almighty for honoring this country with the service of the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites. Since the foundation of the Kingdom by the late King Abdulaziz, its kings have been mobilizing human and material potential to serve the guests of Allah, including Haj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the holy mosques,” the King said.

The Cabinet appreciated the announcement of the Public Investment Fund to launch Future Investment Initiative under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from Oct. 24-26, 2017.

Al-Awwad said the Cabinet congratulated Saudi boy and girl students in all phases of education on the beginning of a new academic session.

The Cabinet approved amendments to the Income Tax Law dated 15 Muharram of 1425 and these amendments will be in force from the beginning of the next fiscal year.