(WASHINGTON, DC) – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz said yesterday that Saudi Arabia will safeguard the country and its citizens from sectarianism and sedition. King Salman addressed the people of Saudi Arabia and all Muslims around the world on the advert of the holy month of Ramadan, which begins today. 

“With the help of God Almighty, we are shielding our country and citizens against sedition, unrest and sectarian tensions,” said King Salman. “We emphasize our total rejection of sectarianism and we are aware of the dangers it poses to national cohesion.” 

In his speech, delivered by Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel Al-Turaifi, King Salman reiterated his commitment to the security and stability of Saudi Arabia.

“We also emphasize that our confidence in the Saudi citizen has no limits, and we will not tolerate those who are negligent. We will hold accountable whoever attempts to undermine our security and our religious and national values,” King Salman continued. 

“Our religion unifies rather than separates. Our religion renounces violence and terrorism,” he said.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed as a guide to mankind. Saudi Arabia occupies a special place in the Islamic world, for it is toward Makkah and Islam’s most sacred shrine, the Ka’abah, that Muslims throughout the world turn devoutly in prayer five times a day.