Middle East

Riyadh, Jul 10: The US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor has been slammed by GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani, for his interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs. Al-Zayani voiced his “dismay” over the attitude of Tom Malinowski, who met with only one segment of political society during his official tour of duty to Bahrain this week. “This kind of

Jerusalem, Jul 9: Israeli warplanes pounded targets in the Gaza Strip Wednesday as a major campaign to stop volleys of Palestinian rocket fire entered its second day, leaving 28 people dead and more than 100 wounded. A strike on a home in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, claimed the lives of a commander of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, his parents, a woman and two children

Madinah, Jul 9: Security officers in Saudi Arabia have arrested nearly 2,200 illegal foreign workers in Madinah and Hail and Baha this month for allegedly violating the country’s residency and labor regulations. Madinah police arrested 884 Asian and African illegals during Ramadan following numerous inspection raids carried out at firms and establishments in the city. Police in Madinah launched a

Makkah, Jul 6: Stay away from sectarianism, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, president of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, told the more than 1 million worshippers who crowded the Grand Mosque during Friday prayers amid tight security. Al-Sudais alluded to the sectarian strife and conflicts tearing apart Muslim countries. “Muslims around the world fast and pray as they witness what is going on in

Riyadh, Jul 5: The holy month of Ramadan is the best time for Muslims to quit smoking, says a senior Health Ministry official. Ali Alwadey, director general of the ministry’s Tobacco Control Program, said there are 54 anti-smoking clinics, which include 10 mobile ones, throughout the Kingdom to assist smokers. Alwadey said Ramadan creates a conducive environment for smokers to quit because they

Riyadh, Jul 5: Saudis and expatriates have slammed the Chinese government’s ban on Muslims in the Xinjiang region from fasting in Ramadan and praying at mosques, as a violation of human rights. They urged Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries to take political and economic action against China for its oppressive policy. They also called for a boycott of Chinese products. The 57-member

Large majorities in Muslim countries are increasingly worried about militancy and oppose its best-known groups, such as the global Al-Qaeda movement and Nigeria’s Boko Haram, according to a new survey. Washington-based Pew Research Center, which regularly tracks opinion on religious issues around the world, polled over 14,000 Muslims in 14 countries in April and May, before an-anti-Islamic group

Jul 3: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has instructed Grand Mosque authorities to open the newly expanded annex buildings of the Grand Mosque for the use of worshippers during Ramadan. A source at the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques said the king’s directive would provide extra prayer space for more than 625,000 worshippers inside the mosque and its courtyards. The royal gesture

Madinah, Jul 2: The Ministry of Social Affairs is monitoring charities in the country closely during Ramadan to ensure there are proper accounts kept of Zakat Al-Fitr and other funds collected and distributed. Sources said that the ministry would require all registered organizations dealing with public funds to provide detailed breakdowns of all their financial activities according to Islamic law

Riyadh, Jul 1: Travel operators in Riyadh will increase the prices of weekend Umrah packages from SR90 per head to SR160 from Wednesday thanks to the influx of pilgrims during Ramadan. Demand is expected to be heavy until the end of the Ramadan season. This year, the peak season coincides with the summer holidays. As such, a large number of vacationers, including Saudis, are expected to perform