Saudi Arabia takes measures to root out Terror Funding

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Addressing the closing session of the 10th Conference on Transnational Crime, organised by the Crans Montana Forum, in Paris on Saturday, Al Salem said the kingdom is opposed to all forms of terrorism and will continue its crackdown on those who want to disrupt the country’s peace and stability.

He said the kingdom abides by all international resolutions related to combating terrorism.

The government has signed a number of bilateral agreements with other countries on combating terror funding and money laundering.

He said the kingdom has established a special court to prosecute those suspected of attacks. It has charged 991 people and intends to charge a further 323. The courts are also looking at a number of money laundering cases. Between 2004 and 2008, 180 were charged and 175 may still be charged.

Between 2004 and 2007, 37 were charged and a further 43 people are suspected of being involved in funding terrorist organisations.

Al Salem said Saudi Arabia has been attacked 98 times by terrorists. Some of these attacks took place long before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

He said terrorist acts in the kingdom have claimed the lives of 90 civilians and injured 608 people.

However, he said the threat level posed by terrorist groups in the kingdom has decreased because of the action of the security forces.

He said the kingdom was one of the first countries that warned against the danger of Osama bin Laden and his ‘corrupt approach’.

He added that the country stripped him of his Saudi citizenship and froze his assets in 1994 — well before the September 11 attacks.

 

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