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 Saudi Crown Prince Nayef dies in Geneva
Saudi Arabia's heir apparent Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
died Saturday at a Geneva hospital following prolonged illness, Al
Jazeera reported. The 78-year-old was undergoing treatment »
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Jeddah:
Riyadh Governor Prince Sattam, Makkah Governor Prince Khaled
Al-Faisal, Baha Governor Prince Mishari bin Saud, Jazan Governor
Prince Muhammad bin Nasser and other regional governors expressed
their deep sorrow over Crown Prince Naif’s death.
In a statement
to Saudi Press Agency, Prince Sattam said that Saudi Arabia and the
Muslim world have lost a statesman who had several contributions
at local and international arenas.
Prince Khaled described Prince Naif’s death as a big loss for the
Arab and Islamic Ummah. “We condole King Abdullah and the ruling
royal family, the Saudi people and we pray that Allah show mercy
to Naif, enter him in His Paradise and include him among the
martyrs,” the Makkah governor said and commended Crown Prince
Naif’s great qualities as a responsible administrator.
“I bear
witness that you have been a person of great morals and a sincere
government official,” Prince Khaled said about the late crown
prince.
Prince Mishari bin Saud commended Crown Prince Naif’s efforts for
the success of Islamic causes. “He backed the oppressed and stood
firmly against aggressors.”
The governor also noted Crown Prince Naif’s security achievements. “Thanks to his work Saudi Arabia
became an oasis of security and stability.”
Prince Mishari said he had held Prince Naif in high esteem and
admiration considering his wonderful personality. He did not show
any leniency in matters concerning the nation and citizens.
“Ever
since he was a young person, Crown Prince Naif rejected aggression
on the rights of any citizen. He dedicated his life to ensuring
Saudis lived in peace and security,” the Baha governor said in his
obituary.
Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah described Prince Naif as a
unique personality and one of the great men of Saudi Arabia.
“He will be remembered in history
and his national and international achievements written in golden
letters. He loved goodness and supported the needy and the poor,”
the minister said.
Justice Minister Muhammad Al-Eissa commended Prince Naif’s efforts
to bring security closer to the Saudi society. Crown Prince Naif
had instituted an international prize to promote research in
Hadith (the Tradition of the Prophet). Al-Eissa noted the late
prince’s support for judiciary and its independence.
The 150-member Shoura Council also expressed its deep sorrow over
the crown prince’s death. “It’s a big loss for Saudis, Arabs and
Muslims. He was a good example for a successful statesman and a
security man. He was a strong fortress for the nation and lived
close to the hearts of citizens.”
The Shoura highlighted Naif’s contributions in administrative,
security, educational and cultural fields. It also praised his
prudent views and political wisdom. The consultative body
underscored Crown Prince Naif’s achievements in defeating
terrorists and extremists in the country by launching a massive
campaign against them and conducting pre-emptive strikes.
Saudi academic scholars and government officials remembered Crown
Prince Naif as a tough security leader, humanitarian and a
religious man who had a soft corner for the poor. He spent his
whole life dedicated to serving his country, said Saleh Al-Namalah,
a member of the foreign affairs committee at the Shoura Council.
Al-Namalah said Crown Prince Naif would be remembered first as a
security man.
Sultan Al-Angari, a writer and a researcher in the field of
security, said the crown prince’s efforts to establish security
made Saudi Arabia virtually a drug-free country. He spared no
effort in combating drugs by establishing the General Department
for Narcotics Control within the Ministry of Interior.
Al-Angari recalled that the crown prince spent long hours in his
office.
“I remember having a meeting with him once at the Ministry
from 3 to 4 in the morning,” he said. “He left his office only to
pray Fajr and he was always the last to leave.”
The crown prince worked to build a strong internal security force
and equipped it with state-of-the-art technology as well as an
international standard of training, he said. From the Ministry of
Interior many ministries were born under Prince Naif’s
supervision. The crown prince often met the public and tribal
leaders in a regular gathering. He never declined a wedding
invitation.
Sami Badawood, director general of the Jeddah Directorate of
Health Affairs, said he received the news of the crown prince’s
death during a meeting at the directorate in Jeddah and that
neither him nor his colleagues could finish the meeting.
“We were
shocked and lost our concentration. In fact, we had to call the
meeting off,” Badawood said. He d remembered Prince Naif as the
head of the Haj committee at the Ministry of Interior. He said the
crown prince cared deeply for the safety of pilgrims.
Abdullah Al-Hussain, president ofDarAl-OloomUniversity, said the
crown prince loved science and was a religious man keen to serve
Islam and empower the Ulema, the highest religious scholars.
He said the crown prince opened his
door wide for scientists.
Al-Hussain
said the crown prince never turned away a scholar or student
seeking knowledge, even if that meant sponsoring them during their
years of studies.
“The crown prince sponsored many Saudi and
non-Saudi students to pursue their education inside and outside
the Kingdom,” Al-Hussain said. “Muslims worldwide have lost a
security and religious leader,” Al-Hussain added.
Prince Naif died on
Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland. His body was flown to Jeddah today.
The funeral prayers for the Saudi
Crown Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz will be held at the Haram Mosque
in Makkah following the Maghreb prayer today. The body will then
be buried at the graveyard in the holy city.
Muslim leaders from
across the world started arriving in Jeddah on their way to Makkah
to attend the funeral. Hundreds of thousands of people, including
citizens and foreigners as well as Umrah pilgrims from all over
the world will attend the Janaza prayers.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz
arrived in Makkah yesterday evening. Many Saudi leaders, including
Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, and other royal
family members, ministers, high ranking civilian and security
officials also arrived in Makkah.
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