COTABATO CITY: Muslim cleric groups in the country have expressed support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for its stand against extremism and terrorism amid a diplomatic crisis in the Middle East. The KSA, joined by other Gulf States such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, had imposed an economic and diplomatic blockade against Qatar late last month, accusing the Qatari royal family for licensing the funding of terrorism across the Middle East for decades. “We stand in solidarity with the KSA in its policy against Qatar and its Rafidah Movement supporting states who are harboring terrorism and violence extremism phenomenon,” the RDI and BUSC said in a joint-statement written in Arabic. Moreover, Saad Amate, president of the United Imam in the Philippines, said their group also supports the KSA’s move toward energy-rich provider Qatar amid also a crisis in the Philippines. “This is a bold step for Muslim communities to unite and defy terrorism and extremism that our country [the Philippines]is suffering from today,” he added.

Source: Manila Times July 19, 2017 13:52 UTC