SAUDI ARABIA: Royals say the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud is a loss for all humanity and commend his control of state security systems

Record ID: 189003

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Royals say the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud is a loss for all humanity and commend his control of state security systems
  • Date: 17th June 2012
  • Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (JUNE 16, 2012) (REUTERS) PRINCE DR. MISHAAL BIN ABDULLAH BIN TURKI AL-SAUD READING A NEWSPAPER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE DR. MISHAAL BIN ABDULLAH BIN TURKI AL-SAUD, A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SAYING: "The death of His Royal Highness Prince Nayef is a loss for all humanity, he was one of the greatest men in the defence of the homeland security and the stability of societies in general. I consider that the whole house of Saudi feel orphaned on this night." MORE OF PRINCE DR. MISHAAL BIN ABDULLAH BIN TURKI AL-SAUD READING A NEWSPAPER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE DR. MISHAAL BIN ABDULLAH BIN TURKI AL-SAUD, A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SAYING: "I think that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has the physiognomy and knowledge on many of the Royal family men, we call on God to help him choose the right person in the right place who can bear the burdens of this position in this difficult time we face both at the level of the Arab nation or the Islamic Ummah (nation) and time of global challenges." PRINCE SULTAN BIN SAUDI AL-SAUD WALKING IN HIS PALACE IN JEDDAH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE SULTAN BIN SAUDI AL-SAUD, SAYING: "The deceased was a man who was compassionate and merciful to the people of his country, even those who follow the ideology of al Qaeda. He even treated their families well, and also the martyrs, he treated well their families, their wives and their children. He did not forget any party." PICTURES OF PRINCE SULTAN ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE SULTAN BIN SAUDI AL-SAUD, SAYING: "The expectations are that Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz will take over the position of the Ministry of Interior after the passing of Prince Nayef. Especially as Prince Ahmed has served as Deputy Interior Minister for twenty years, I think he is the closest to take over this position." CLOSE OF A PICTURE OF PRINCE SULTAN BIN SAUDI AL-SAUD
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Royalty,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA25R9U3DGWL9SVI0R990ON2Z33
  • Story Text: Saudi royals mourned the death of death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who died on Saturday (June 16), commending his role in tightening the formidable security force which crushed an al Qaeda revolt in Saudi Arabia and with it any dissent against his family's century-old grip on the world's leading oil exporting nation.
    Prince Dr. Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Turki al-Saud said Prince Nayef's death was a great loss and that many would feel 'orphaned'.
    "The death of His Royal Highness Prince Nayef is a loss for all humanity, he was one of the greatest men in the defence of the homeland security and the stability of societies in general. I consider that the whole house of Saudi feel orphaned on this night."
    As with previous successions, the selection process is likely to be smooth, with King Abdullah and a family council expected to start work on the appointment of a new crown prince swiftly.
    Nayef's most likely successor is the pragmatic Prince Salman, 76, a brother of King Abdullah who was made defence minister in November after more than five decades as Riyadh governor, analysts and diplomats in the kingdom said.
    The new crown prince will become heir to a king who is 89 years old in a country that faces a range of tough long-term challenges at home and turmoil in the region.
    "I think that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has the physiognomy and knowledge on many of the Royal family men, we call on God to help him choose the right person in the right place who can bear the burdens of this position in this difficult time we face both at the level of the Arab nation or the Islamic Ummah (nation) and time of global challenges," added Prince Abdullah bin Turki al-Saud.
    Named governor of Riyadh aged only 20, Nayef impressed his father, the founder of the Saudi state, King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, and become interior minister in 1975 where he was soon known as an ally of Wahhabi clerics.
    It was this ministerial role that came to define Nayef by giving him responsibility for protecting the kingdom from internal threats - most frequently from Islamist militants.
    Prince Sultan bin Saudi al-Saud said Prince Nayef was a compassionate man who reached out to the whole nation.
    "The deceased was a man who was compassionate and merciful to the people of his country, even those who follow the ideology of al Qaeda. He even treated their families well, and also the martyrs, he treated well their families, their wives and their children. He did not forget any party."
    To liberals, Nayef was the forbidding face of a conservative establishment that opposed any real moves toward democracy or greater women's rights, oversaw the fearsome religious police and for years headed an Interior Ministry which imprisoned political activists without charge.
    His main concern was battling al Qaeda in the kingdom and in neighbouring Yemen and maintaining a strong barrier against Shi'ite arch-enemy, Iran, according to U.S. embassy assessments.
    Speaking from his palace in Jeddah, Prince Sultan bin Saudi al-Saud said he expected Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz will be at the helm of the Ministry of Interior.
    "The expectations are that Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz will take over the position of the Ministry of Interior after the passing of Prince Nayef. Especially as Prince Ahmed has served as Deputy Interior Minister for twenty years, I think he is the closest to take over this position."
    A source close to the royal family said Nayef had died suddenly in Geneva after receiving treatment for a knee complaint. He was thought to be 78. Crown Prince Nayef had been ill for some time.
    The death was not expected to trigger any major changes to the kingdom's energy policy or to key relationships with the United States and other allies.
    He is to be buried in the holy city of Mecca on Sunday (June 17).
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