More than 15,000 preachers have been employed by the Islamic Affairs
Ministry. Thousands of others operate unofficial mosques, many of which were
believed to be inspired by Al Qaida.
The directive was sent in wake of the arrest of 172 Al Qaida operatives.
The government said the operatives, financed by tens of millions of dollars,
sought to target airlines, oil facilities, military bases and public
figures.
Saudi Deputy Islamic Affairs Minister Tawfiq Al Sudeiri said his office
has issued a directive to preachers to focus on the Al Qaida threat in
sermons scheduled for May 4. Al Sudeiri said the text of the sermon
concerned what he termed the evils of terrorism and extremism.
Officials said the ministry would increase supervision over mosques and
preachers. They warned that the new directive, which would include an
attempt to refute Al Qaida teachings, must be obeyed.
"The contents of next Friday sermons will be monitored," an official
said. "Any Friday preacher who fails to obey the directives will be
questioned."
At the same time, the Interior Ministry has ordered Saudi charities to
support the campaign against Al Qaida. The charities and community service
organizations were directed to speak out against what officials termed
deviant ideologies.
