Prince Ahmed urges joint action to end terrorism

RIYADH: Minister of Interior Prince Ahmed said the responsibility of deterring money laundering and terror financing should be shared between security bodies and community institutions.
Prince Ahmed was addressing a symposium on the role of public prosecution and judicial bodies in combating money laundering and terror financing, which opened in Riyadh on Saturday.
The Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) organized the three-day symposium in collaboration with the Middle East & North Africa Financial Action Task Force.
Prince Ahmed said combating terrorism-related crimes has become an international responsibility, which necessitates cooperation of the international community. The exchange of expertise and studies dealing with the dimensions of such crimes and the provision of proper solutions on how to minimize risks associated with these crimes and the prevention of their recurrence would support that responsibility.
The Kingdom exerts continued efforts to diminish crime in all its forms based on the teaching of Shariah. The Islamic law does not acknowledge corruption, nor does it allow for assaults on people’s lives, their religion, wealth, honor and dignity, the prince said.
The Kingdom has relentlessly fought terrorism, its sources of idea and finance, and managed to deter such crimes, which are alien to Saudi society, values and morals, he said. The interior minister said the Kingdom is highly committed to combating money laundering and terror financing and is among the top 10 G20 countries in the fight against these crimes. Its efforts have earned it the respect of the international community, he pointed out.
Prince Ahmed denied large-scale money laundering in the Kingdom, saying that no funds were going out of the Kingdom to finance terrorism and efforts were exerted to curb such crimes. Money laundering emerged mainly from illegal funds and fighting it has become a necessity. Security bodies are developing mechanisms to anticipate the occurrence of crimes, he said.
Prince Ahmed refuted claims that the Kingdom is limiting political activity for citizens, adding that the Ministry of Interior is working in line with the state system based on the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
He said the people of Saudi Arabia are united and that the dialogue between Islamic doctrines is a matter that concerns the Islamic world. Acquaintance through dialogue is stipulated in the Holy Qur’an, which calls for compassion between people.
On recent developments in some Arab countries and precautions taken by the Kingdom to this end, the minister said Saudi citizens are keen on the security of their country. The preservation of security is the responsibility of all people.
Responding to a question on the excesses committed by some influential officials in government departments and some of them using their position to give employment to their relatives, Prince Ahmed said there was no legal provision for officials to allow the exploitation of jobs in government agencies for their families. National interest makes it clear that all are partners in building a prosperous homeland and the president of the National Anti-Corruption Commission has the task to detect and report irregularities, he said.