JEDDAH: The owner of the cheetah which had strayed into a mosque in Buraidah recently has defended his big cat as “harmless and loving.”
Abdullah Al-Nagshimi, the owner of the animal, was quoted as saying by Al-Arabiyah.net that his children play with the animal without fear and that his neighbors also love it.
Worshippers were shocked when the cheetah walked into the mosque and sat comfortably, looking at them. The video of the scene soon went viral on social media, raising questions as to where the animal came from.
“I received a phone call stating that a security patrol was guarding the mosque. I immediately went there and saw the animal sitting quietly even amid the security men and citizens and it did not hurt anyone. It came to me as soon as it saw me. This assured everybody inside the mosque that it is a peaceful pet and there was no need to be afraid of it.”
“I have been breeding big cats for the last six years as a hobby. In the past, I had a Bengal tiger and a lion. But now I have only this cheetah,” he said.
Al-Nagshimi said: “I have a six-month-old son and a six-year-old daughter. Both of them play with the animal without fear. When I bought him, his teeth weren’t sharp and its claws had been removed. My neighbors always ask me for their selfies with the animal.”
On how the animal entered the mosque, he said: “That particular day, I washed the cheetah in the rest station near the mosque. I left it to dry, but the gatekeeper left the place leaving the door open. The animal came out and entered the mosque.”
Cheetah which entered mosque is harmless & loving, says owner
Cheetah which entered mosque is harmless & loving, says owner
Saudi Crown Prince, UN secretary general discuss Gaza situation
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received a phone call from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Saudi Press Agency said early Tuesday.
The pair discussed the latest developments in Gaza and efforts towards achieving peace and stability.
Saudi leaders congratulate Russian president on re-election
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Saudi Press Agency said early Tuesday.
The Crown Prince congratulated Putin on being re-elected for a new presidential term.
Putin thanked the crown prince for his noble feelings.
“The call stressed distinguished bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in all fields,” the SPA reported.
Earlier, King Salman and the Crown Prince sent separate cables congratulating the Russian president.
Saudi foreign, culture ministers sign memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation
- MoU set to foster closer cooperation in advancing international cultural exchanges
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to help boost collaboration between their ministries within the cultural sector and aid coordination across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreement, which was signed in Riyadh, is set to foster closer cooperation in advancing international cultural exchanges.
It is in line with the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Culture under Vision 2030.
Jordan’s crown prince performs Umrah
- He was joined by a diverse group of the Jordanian Armed Forces, young entrepreneurs, activists, athletes
RIYADH: Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah on Monday performed Umrah, the minor pilgrimage to Makkah.
He also performed prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Accompanying him were notable figures including Prince Omar bin Faisal, Prince Nayef bin Asem, and Prince Rakan bin Mired.
He was also joined by a diverse group comprising members of the Jordanian Armed Forces, young entrepreneurs, activists, athletes, and media professionals. They shared in the spiritual journey and also gathered for iftar, the meal to break the fast during Ramadan.
Saudi Red Crescent Authority responds to over 3,700 emergency calls in Madinah following start of Umrah season
- Some 1,746 individuals required emergency medical attention from SRCA’s ambulance teams
RIYADH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Madinah has responded to a total of 3,762 emergency calls since the start of the Umrah season on March 6, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Some 1,746 individuals required emergency medical attention from SRCA’s ambulance teams and were subsequently transported to various healthcare facilities for further treatment.
SRCA’s Madinah Branch Director General Dr. Ahmed Al-Zahrani said that the majority of calls were related to health concerns, while a significant number also pertained to traffic incidents.
Some 1,807 volunteers had worked 10,638 hours at the Prophet’s Mosque and Quba Mosque during this period, he added.
Individuals in Madinah can request ambulance services by calling 997 or by using the Asefni app, which allows users to communicate to an emergency team via a phone call or text message.