winterbadger | Saudi mufti speaks on violence

from the Washington Post:

"Islam seeks moderation," said Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Sheik, who holds the title of Saudi Arabia's grand mufti [highest-ranking cleric], or leader of its Sunni branch. "Those who deviate from moderation and try to incite Muslims against their rulers are seeking discord and anarchy through destruction, terrorism, bombings and shedding the blood of Muslims and those under the protection of the state."

"Islam has forbidden violence in all its forms," the mufti said, speaking near the mountain where the prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. "It has forbidden hijacking airplanes, ships and other means of transport and has forbidden all acts that would undermine security."
Security for this year's hajj was described as extraordinarily tight. The pilgrimage has been the scene of violence in the past. Last year, bombings attributed to al Qaeda, the fundamentalist terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden, killed 51 people in the kingdom.

The mufti took pains to answer claims that the Saudis, who export missionaries to spread the puritanical Wahhabi strain of Islam, has encouraged intolerance or militancy.

"You must know Islam's firm stance against all these terrible crimes which have been attributed to it," he said. " The world must know that Islam is the religion of peace and mercy and goodness; it is the religion of justice and guidance. It is a religion that prohibits all forms of injustice and the shedding of blood without genuine reason."

it's just words, but at least it's something