Friday Sermons in Saudi Mosques: MEMRI Offers Review and Analysis

9/26/2002

From: Middle East Media Research Institute, 202-955-9070

News Advisory:

Friday sermons delivered in the main mosques of Saudi Arabia are available on the Saudi-based website http://www.alminbar.net. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is releasing a translation and analysis of a number of these sermons, which focus on topics ranging from Jihad and anti-Western sentiment, to education in the Islamic world and women's rights.

According to Al-Minbar (The Pulpit), the Saudi-based website which labels itself as "Direct from Mecca," "is a site for every Muslim who seeks knowledge and more specifically for every Imam looking to improve his speech and enhance the knowledge level of his congregation." Created in 1999 by Sheikh Wajdi Al-Ghazzaawi, the website contains "thousands of written and audio Khutbas (i.e. sermons)."

The following is an outline of MEMRI's report:

-- Part I - 'The Christians and the Jews are "Infidels," "Enemies of Allah"'

-- Part II - 'Jews - The Descendants of Pigs and Apes'

-- Part III - 'It is Impossible to Make Peace With the Jews'

-- Part IV - 'Muslims Must Educate Their Children to Jihad... and to Hatred of Jews and Christians'

-- Part V - 'The Palestinian Struggle Must be An Islamic Jihad'

-- Part VI - 'Muslim Women's Rights are a Western Ploy to Destroy Islam'

-- APPENDIX - About Al-Minbar

To read the entire report, visit: http://memri.org/sr.html and click on "Friday Sermons in Saudi Mosques: Review and Analysis"

For more on Saudi Arabia, visit: http://memri.org/saudiarabia.html