HRH Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Kingdom's Ambassador to the United States, in response to questions regarding Thursday's release of the bin Ladin tape stated the following:

"The tape displays the cruel and inhumane face of a murderous criminal who has no respect for the sanctity of human life or the principles of his faith. Bin Ladin and those he mentions in his tape are deviants and renegades who do not represent the Islamic faith or the Saudi people. We reject and condemn in the strongest terms possible their attitudes and their actions. We hope that the perpetrators of this horrific crime will soon be brought to justice and severely punished."

Prince Bandar then addressed some frequently asked questions (FAQs).

On Alleged Saudi Funding for Terrorism

Saudi Arabia does not support or contribute to terrorism. We never have, and we never will. Terrorism is against our religion and culture, and we have been victims of it for the past four decades. We monitor all financial transactions to ensure that no money goes to evildoers. The U.S. Treasury Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and other officials have publicly said that Saudi Arabia has frozen assets and has cooperated fully in this matter.

• "The Secretary [of State] indicated way back on November 7 that Saudi Arabia has been prominent among the countries acting against the accounts of terrorist organizations, and like so many other countries taking action in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1333." - Phillip Reeker, Deputy Spokesman, U.S. Department of State; State Department News Briefing, 12/3/01
• "Saudi Arabia has been prominent among the countries acting against the accounts of terrorist organizations ... and I am delighted that Saudi Arabia has just ratified the [International] Convention [for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism]." - Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, 11/7/01
• "Al Qaeda is directed first and foremost at the overthrow of the Saudi monarchy ... You can be sure that any Al Qaeda operative is on the Saudi wanted list and that any senior operative is high on that list." - Chas W. Freeman, former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, President of the Middle East Policy Council; National Journal, 'The Saudi Problem,' by Peter Stone, 10/6/01

On Saudi Freezing of Assets

• Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of international efforts in fighting terrorism and for combating money-laundering activities. Recently, we joined Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the G-20 countries in order to develop an aggressive action plan directed at the routing out and freezing of terrorist assets worldwide. The President of the United States and the Department of State have said repeatedly that Saudi Arabia's cooperation on the financial front has been excellent and that there is nothing that the U.S. has asked for that it has not gotten from Saudi Arabia.
• "We understand that the Saudi Central Bank has issued instructions to banks in Saudi Arabia to look for and freeze accounts listed by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee, and we remain very pleased with the cooperation and work we have had together with the Saudis on this matter." - Phillip Reeker, Deputy Spokesman, U.S. Department of State; State Department News Briefing, 12/3/01
• "Saudi Arabia has been prominent among the countries acting against the accounts of terrorist organizations. Like many countries, they are taking action in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1333, which calls on all UN members to freeze accounts listed by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee that are linked to the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, or to the Taleban." - Richard Boucher, Spokesman, U.S. Department of State; State Department Press Conference, 11/27/01
• "Saudi Arabia has been helpful across the board in areas dealing with financing (and) the President is very pleased with the cooperation of the Saudi government." - Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary; White House Press Briefing, 11/19/01

On Saudi Support for Osama bin Ladin

Osama bin Ladin is a dissenter who has taken the side of evil. His citizenship was revoked in the early 1990s on account of his irresponsible acts and he remains unpopular among our citizens. As a nation, we are horrified by his actions and we reject what he and his followers stand for. They are deviants and criminals whose actions we strongly reject. People must understand that we are also victims of Osama bin Ladin's terrorist acts.

• "Osama bin Ladin ...... will not rest until every Arab leader who is even moderately pro-American is displaced and killed, including the entire Saudi royal family ...... We must stand by our friends in the Middle East and show that we cannot be controlled by terrorists." - Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA), Statement in the Congressional Record, H5922, 9/21/01
• "The recent developments in the United States constitute a form of injustice that is not tolerated by Islam, which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts." - Chairman of the Senior Ulema Shaikh Abdulaziz Al-Shaikh, 9/15/01
• "These cruel acts are rejected by all human principles and religions; moreover, Islam rejects the killing of innocent people." - Dr. Abdulwahid Belkaziz, Secretary-General, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), 9/14/01
• "As a human community we must be vigilant and careful to oppose these pernicious and shameless evils, which are not justified by any sane logic, nor by the religion of Islam." - Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Shaikh Salih Al-Luheidan, 9/14/01

On the Saudi Education System and Anti-Americanism

Our educational system does not teach anti-American doctrines and hatred of the West. Over the past sixty years, tens of thousands of Americans have lived in Saudi Arabia, among our society. There has not been one hate crime against any of them. Islam teaches peace, amicability and tolerance, not violence and hatred. As Saudis and Muslims, we wish to establish friendly relations that serve mutual interests in all spheres. The involvement of Saudi citizens in the September 11 acts of terrorism was shocking to us. It is important to understand that these individuals were deviants and criminals. They do not represent the people of Saudi Arabia or Islam any more than Jim Jones or Branch Davidians represent America or Christianity.

• "Any attack on innocent people is unlawful and contrary to Shariah (Islamic law). Muslims must safeguard the lives, honor and property of non-Muslims who are under their protection and with whom they have concluded peace agreements. Attacking them contradicts Shariah." - Shaikh Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Subail, imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah and member of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars, 12/4/01
• "The recent developments in the United States constitute a form of injustice that is not tolerated by Islam, which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts." - Chairman of the Senior Ulema Shaikh Abdulaziz Al-Shaikh, 9/15/01
• "As a human community we must be vigilant and careful to oppose these pernicious and shameless evils, which are not justified by any sane logic, nor by the religion of Islam." - Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Shaikh Salih Al-Luheidan, 9/14/01

On Stability in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi government has been in existence for almost three hundred years. It is part and parcel of its culture, environment, and habitat. Are we perfect? Of course not, but then who is? Do we strive to be better? Of course we do. We are normal people trying to lead normal lives, just like you. Over the past six decades, many have predicted our demise: at times they accuse us of being too backwards, at times too religious, at times too wealthy, at times too poor. Sometimes we are said to have too few people, at other times we have too many. The only constant in all of this is that these predictions have all been wrong, and the Kingdom has continued to develop and prosper and become a stronger nation. The goal of the Saudi government is to take care of its people, and to create the environment in which they can lead productive, useful lives. Our achievements speak for themselves: over the past thirty years alone, we have invested over $ 1.2 trillion to transform our country from a sandbox into a modern, viable nation. We have succeeded while others have predicted our demise. Have we made mistakes along the way? Of course we have, but we have learned from them.