Saudi Crown Prince Performs Eid Prayer in Riyadh

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz performs the Eid prayer. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz performs the Eid prayer. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Performs Eid Prayer in Riyadh

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz performs the Eid prayer. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz performs the Eid prayer. SPA

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, performed Eid Al-Fitr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The prayer was led by Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, Faculty Member at the Higher Judicial Institute, SPA said.

The prayer was performed by Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of Council of Senior Scholars and General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, it added.

The prayer was also performed by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh; Prince Khalid bin Saad bin Abdulaziz; Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Prince Naif bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Dr. Abdulrahman bin Saud Al-Kabeer; Prince Bandar bin Musaed bin Abdulaziz; Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Faisal bin Khalid Bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Miteb bin Thanayan; Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan; Prince Faisal bin Mohammed bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, Advisor at the Royal Court; Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy; Prince Abdulaziz bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques; Prince Bandar Khalid Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Commission, and their Highness the princes, a number of officials and a group of citizens, SPA added.



Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)

Kuwait reiterated its commitment to working with the international community to tackle the growing threat of terrorism, highlighting the importance of strengthening global cooperation in this fight.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Representative warned that the number of deaths from terrorist attacks is on the rise, with the latest Global Terrorism Index showing a 22% increase in fatalities in 2023.

Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, cautioned that conflict zones could become breeding grounds for terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.

He spoke at the High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” that began in Kuwait on Monday.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al Sabah said: “We expect this phase of the Dushanbe Process to strengthen international efforts aimed at creating a secure and stable future for all.”

“Terrorism knows no borders and does not distinguish between countries or religions,” he noted.

The conference will conclude its work Tuesday, with the adoption of the “Kuwait Declaration” which will reflect the discussions and opinions of the participants and will serve as a guiding document for efforts to combat terrorism.

The Crown Prince urged collective action against terrorism and emphasized the need for unity in facing this challenge. He stressed that terrorism and violent extremism are not linked to any religion, culture, or ethnic group.

He also highlighted the critical role of the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Program and the UN Counter-Terrorism Center in boosting border security, providing member states with the necessary expertise to develop comprehensive strategies that integrate counter-terrorism measures.

This approach is vital for effectively addressing emerging threats at borders.

At the conference's opening session, Voronkov stressed that international cooperation in fighting terrorism should guide all parties toward effective coordination and collaboration to secure their countries and prevent terrorist movements across borders.

Voronkov pointed out that the global security situation is changing, with terrorists exploiting border vulnerabilities. Recent reports show that more than 40% of violent incidents and 10% of deaths from political violence occur within 100 kilometers of land borders.

He specifically noted the growing terrorist presence in coastal West African countries like Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, mentioning that violent incidents in border areas have surged by 250% over the past two years.

He also highlighted that the latest Global Terrorism Index indicates a 22% rise in global terrorism-related deaths in 2023, reaching 8,352—the highest number since 2017.

Voronkov cautioned that the travel routes used by groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda pose significant risks, especially in conflict-affected regions like the Sahel, where they can recruit and move individuals across poorly secured borders.