Hussein Mahmoud Ragab Elkabany, Cagrı Koşak
31 May 2019•Update: 01 June 2019
ISTANBUL
The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) urged Arab leaders Thursday to rescue the region from a devastating war and to immediately liberate all political prisoners and thought criminals.
A war in the region will only serve the interests of enemies, the Doha-based group said in a statement simultaneously with an Arab League Summit in Mecca.
The emergency summit in Mecca are being convened to discuss what Riyadh describes as “the Iranian threat to the region.”
Earlier this month, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claimed that four vessels, including two oil tankers, were targeted in “sabotage attacks” near its territorial waters.
Days later, Saudi Arabia said armed drones attacked two pumping stations on the East-West Pipeline that carries oil from the Kingdom’s Eastern Province to the Port of Yanbu.
Riyadh has since accused Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, known to be close to Iran, for the alleged drone attack.
The IUMS also asked Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE to liberate imprisoned clerics.
It also stressed the need to re-strengthen The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as it urged Saudi Arabia to lift an embargo on Qatar.
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt all abruptly severed ties with Doha in 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups -- an allegation Qatar denies.
* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz
