Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Saudi Terrorism Expert: the London Attacks will Strengthen Ties between London and Riyadh | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- A Saudi counter- Terrorism expert anticipates Al-Qaeda”s activities to extend to Europe especially America”s allies like Australia and Italy, in a similar fashion to the terrorist activities that took place in Spain and Britain, unless they take the necessary precautions to prevent it through long term safety measures.

Professor Hamad Al-Abdel Lateef, founder and head of British-based association &#34All Against Terrorism&#34 said that Arab and Islamic communities should avoid any discussions or clashes with British people that may exasperate the problem. He said, &#34The present terrorist attacks in Britain will definitely harm relations between Britain and Arab and Islamic countries. Despite this negative aspect, there are positive ones, particularly concerning Britain”s relationship to the Kingdom. The bonds between the two countries are expected to grow stronger in the field of countering terrorism. Cooperation would be substantial and deep since Saudi Arabia has been through similar incidents and has formulated adequate experience in methods of confronting and combating terrorism. A number of Saudi officials emphasized this and said that they were ready to join efforts to discover the perpetrators or provide any information that could be useful to Britain”s investigation.

He added that what happened would undermine what the association is trying to achieve through approximating religions. On an economic level, he thought that the events would surely affect the summer tourism season this year. He continued, &#34The association shares many fields of cooperation with other non-governmental British associations numbering around 57 which have various activities and different aims but all unite in the goal of approximating religions, cultures, and thoughts. Asked about the nature of such cooperation, he replied that, on the academic level, it is in the form of holding seminars inside Britain and Europe and said that they cooperate with other associations to decrease the acuteness of the crisis by increasing awareness and seminars.

The association would cooperate with the British government, he said, through its members in London. He said that letters have been exchanged with the government and that any results concerning the latest events would be announced through the association website. They would publish names of bombing victims and any other information that the government wants to publish about the details of the incidents.

The association would cooperate with the British government, he said, through its members in London. He said that letters have been exchanged with the government and that any results concerning the latest events would be announced through the association website. They would publish names of bombing victims and any other information that the government wants to publish about the details of the incidents.

Regarding British people”s probable reaction towards Muslims, Professor Al-Abdel Lateef said that the British people are civilized and rational as they believe in the racial diversity inside Britain. They were able to live peacefully with all ethnic groups and religions. Even the British government supports such diversity unlike other European countries that erased other identities and tried to merge them within society under the culture of the country itself.

Prof. Al-Abdel Lateef praised the statements of British Prime Minister Tony Blair that followed the incidents in which he affirmed that the bombings have nothing to do with Islam and that its perpetrators do not belong to the Muslim nation. He said that it was a sign of Blair”s political wisdom since Muslims in Britain form the working class and they are completely fused within British society.