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Last update - 02:25 09/03/2008 Saudi's top cleric warns against giving to al-Qaida linked charities By The Associated Press Tags: Saudi Arabia, Terrorism  Saudi Arabia's top religious authority warned Saudis against giving money to charities and organizations financing evil groups, a top local daily reported Saturday. The warning by Grand Mufti Sheik Abdul-Aziz Abdullah al-Sheikh comes just days after police found an audio from al-Qaida No.2 Ayman al-Zawahri, exhorting his followers to collect money for needy families in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "It is bad to give funds to just anyone who asks, and to parties with shabby reputations or unknown backing," the mufti said in a statement published in the daily al-Okaz, which is deemed close to the government. Advertisement "It's even worse to give it to an organization that's known for its evil and for hurting Islam and its followers," he added in an apparent reference to al-Qaida, which has carried out attacks on foreigners in Saudi Arabia. Though the Saudi government has waged a crackdown on the group since 2003, individual citizens are widely believed to support the terror network and allied organizations through private donations to Islamic charities. Many reports carry evidence that private Saudi money has been funneled into known Islamic terrorist groups, prompting pressures on the Saudi government to monitor the traffic of charitable funds. Some U.S. lawmakers had also insisted that oil money from the royal family itself has been diverted into numerous nonprofit organizations supporting terrorist activity. The Interior Ministry found al-Zawahri's message on the memory card of a mobile phone of one of 28 militants whose arrest was announced March 3 for allegedly being tasked with rebuilding al-Qaida's network in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry on Saturday asked Saudis to report if they have received audio messages over their mobile phones purported to be from al-Zawahri. In a statement, the ministry gave the citizens have a week's deadline, starting Sunday, to step forward, report such messages and clarify their stance. Otherwise, it said, procedures will be taken against any suspect who fail to report the occurrence. No details were provided. In October, the government-appointed mufti asked wealthy people to exercise vigilance on where they donate their money. He also warned young religious zealots against becoming tools in the hands of foreign groups which play with their feelings in the name of holy war Bookmark to del.icio.us   From Pyongyang N. Korea expresses hope for stronger ties with Syria. Peres in Paris Pres. tells Le Figaro Israel won't act alone to halt Iran.   1.   Earth to Israel 06:07  |  Mark Lincoln 09/03/08   2.   al qaida doesnt exist, remember fake cells? 07:52  |  fact worthy 09/03/08   3.   #2 fact worthy - It is immaterial whether or not 08:41  |  Yonatan 09/03/08   4.   Sounds like... 10:23  |  Motic 09/03/08   5.   Their Wahabi poison has turned around to bite them 11:06  |  PETER SM 09/03/08   6.   FACTWORTHY RING up top Saudi cleric,tell him he is ignorant. 11:46  |  PETER SM 09/03/08

Today Online Palestinians: Hamas, Hezbollah cooperated on Jerusalem attack Responses: 83 Intel chiefs to present cabinet with grim scenarios for 2008 Responses: 23 Zvi Bar'el: Make Syria a partner in the war on terror Responses: 5 Gideon Levy: Mercaz Harav produced the rabbis who led the vilest form of Zionism Responses: 11 Editorial: Peace now, or eternal conflict later Responses: 8 Rosner's Domain Whose Jerusalem Is It, anyway? Poll: Should Abbas and Olmert continue their talks? An Israeli and a crocodile (WTR) The Israel Factor: What's wrong with Obama? Rosner's Mailbox: Stop focusing on Israel's favorability polls More Headlines 12:16 IDF soldier dies of wounds sustained in Gaza border ambush 12:29 Palestinians: Hamas, Hezbollah cooperated on Jerusalem terror attack 12:06 Report: Hamas leader says hundreds of militants trained in Iran, Syria 11:53 Likud MK to propose banning public mourning for terrorists 11:43 For stricken yeshiva, trauma of terror attack likely to linger 07:22 Jewish Agency to start anti-terror drive after J'lem attack 02:59 ANALYSIS / J'lem attack doesn't signal start of third intifada 07:06 Intel chiefs to present cabinet with grim scenarios for 2008 11:01 Rishon Letzion man stabs wife to death as daughter, 12, looks on 04:40 Peretz wants Ayalon to join him in Labor Party challenge to Barak Previous Editions Select Day 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb

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