Muslim countries should play primary role in fighting terrorism: Saudi prince

There has to be concrete action on the ground to put a stop to the killings of Muslims, says Prince Turki al-Fasial

Muslim countries across the globe have a responsibility to help fight against terrorism, a Saudi prince has said.

Addressing the media at the 18-day military exercise with 20 members of a recently announced Islamic counter-terrorism alliance, Prince Turki al-Faisal said, "I consider this a leading and commendable step that should have happened sooner and thank God it has taken place.

"It's no secret, unfortunately, that in our world today the majority of terrorism-related acts, its victims are Muslim," he said. "Therefore, it is our responsibility as Muslim countries to play the primary role in fighting this disease that has impacted us all."



Prince Turki, who led Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Directorate for over two decades until September 2001, said Saudi leaders were yet to give signs if the kingdom's troops would fight President Bashar al-Assad's regime, if deployed in Syria.

"The world community has the capability, economic, political, military and otherwise, to put a stop to the killing," he said. "I think it is high time people said enough is enough, but simply saying it is not going to do it. There has to be concrete action on the ground to put a stop to the killing."

Saudi Arabia in December last year announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, according to a joint statement published on state news agency SPA.



A list of Arab countries such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, together with Islamic countries Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and Gulf Arab and African states were mentioned.

Regarding the ongoing tension with Iran, Prince Turki said "the ball is in the Iranian court."

"KSA has expressed publicly that Iran's interference in the affairs of Arab states is a situation that is unacceptable."

This article originally appeared on the Independent