"The finding of weapons and dangerous explosives to carry out subversive acts and destroy economic installations… should not be taken lightly," said Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh.
The statement follows news last week of the arrest of 701 Al-Qaeda militants in the last six months for allegedly plotting to carry out terrorist attacks on oil facilities and other vital installations.
Al-Asheikh called on young Saudis not to be enticed by militants. He further demanded coordinated action from Saudis and residents to uncover members of the group.
In a nine-point statement, the mufti said the criminal acts planned by the militants would not come from the mind of a true believer, adding that these militants were acting as tools in the hands of the enemies of Islam and Saudi Arabia. Al-Asheikh, who is the Kingdom’s highest religious authority, said Islam does not allow the killing of innocent people. He also cautioned Muslim youth against deviant ideologies whose proponents want to undermine the Kingdom’s security.
"You should be aware that these militants, who claim to work for the cause of Islam and defend Muslims, actually hide their vested interests and vicious objectives," he said.
Al-Asheikh warned Saudis and residents against providing protection and refuge to militants.
Bahrain confirms Jewish woman as new envoy to US
AFP: Bahrain, a close US ally, announced on Thursday that it has appointed a Jewish woman as its ambassador in Washington, a first for an Arab country.
King Hamad issued a decree naming Huda Nunu as head of the Gulf state’s diplomatic mission in the United States, the official BNA news agency reported.
Her appointment had been anticipated since May, and Bahraini officials have denied it is a public relations stunt.
There are just 37 Jews in the tiny Gulf kingdom of around 530,000 Bahrainis.
"This move is not propaganda," an official told AFP in May. "It reflects a climate of tolerance towards minorities in Bahrain," which is ruled by a Sunni dynasty and has a disgruntled Shiite majority.
Nunu was appointed to the Shura (consultative) Council — the upper chamber of parliament — in 2006.
Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, is the only Arab state in the Gulf to have a Jewish community. Their numbers were higher at the turn of the 20th century, but dwindled following the creation of Israel in 1948.
Nunu’s grandfather, Ibrahim Nunu, represented the Jewish community in Bahrain’s municipal council formed by the British authorities in 1919.
The council had representatives of all religious and ethnic communities in the then British protectorate.
Nunu is the third Bahraini woman to be appointed ambassador. Sheikha Haya al-Khalifa was the country’s ambassador to France, and Shiite Bibi Alawi was appointed a few months ago as envoy to China.
