Saudi grand mufti slams Swedish minister’s comments on judiciary
The grand mufti described as ‘fake and baseless’ the Swedish minister’s comments on the kingdom’s judiciary
Saudi Arabia's grand mufti slammed on Wednesday comments by Sweden’s foreign minister criticizing the Arab kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“Whoever causes harm to the legitimate and independent [Saudi] Judiciary is either ignorant or biased and will get nowhere,” the SPA quoted Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh as saying.
Last week, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Sweden, accusing Stockholm of “flagrant interference” in its internal affairs and on Wednesday the United Arab Emirates summoned the Swedish ambassador in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to protest the comments.
“An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that due to the offensive remarks made by Sweden's foreign minister against the kingdom, the kingdom considered these remarks as a blatant interference in its internal affairs,” SPA reported at the time.
On Wednesday, the grand mufti described at a weekly broadcasting program as “fake and baseless” the Swedish minister’s comments on the kingdom’s judiciary, the SPA reported.
The senior religious figure stressed that the judiciary in Saudi Arabia was “independent and nobody could dictate it as it was based on the holy Quran and Sunnah [the prophet's sayings].”
“Our religion gives rights to all people alike,” he also said, noting the presence of multiple nationals in the kingdom and the fairness which they enjoy under the country’s labor law, among others.
