RIYADH: Justice Minister Waleed Al-Samaani has welcomed the newly formed 34-nation anti-terrorism alliance and said it demonstrated the determination of Muslim countries to unite and fight terror in all its forms.
Speaking to the press, the minister said these terrorist groups have been allowed to grow and flourish because of support they received from various countries directly or indirectly.
These groups were targeting several Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, and by doing so were tarnishing Islam, which teaches that believers should behave moderately and respect their neighbors, he said.
Islam's leading seat of learning, Al-Azhar, urged all Muslim countries to join the coalition to fight "terrorism" in the Islamic world.
The Cairo-based institution hailed the formation of the alliance as "historic", and said it hoped it would defeat the "evils of terrorism".
"This was an urgent demand of the people of Islamic countries who have suffered more than others from this black terrorism," Al-Ahzar said in a statement.
"Al-Azhar calls on all Islamic countries to join this coalition to counter terrorism... that has committed horrible crimes indiscriminately."
In Cairo, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ahmed Abu Zaid, said that his country has supported the alliance because it has been formed by Arab and Muslim countries and is aimed at fighting terrorist groups.
In Istanbul, Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu said the unified stance taken by Muslim countries represents the strongest response to those who want to link terrorism with Islam, and that the country would provide whatever assistance is needed for the fight.
Military analyst, Ibrahim Al-Marai, told a local newspaper here that many countries have decided to join the alliance because of the success of the coalition forces in Yemen.
He said it was clear the alliance would operate on military and other fronts, be wary of violating the sovereignty of other countries, or be seen as an aggressor. The aim was to achieve global security and stability in partnership with others, he said.
Daesh, which has launched attacks on several Western targets in recent months, has issued warnings to Gulf states and have mounted a series of attacks on mosques and security forces in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, a report in an online publication said Tuesday.
— With input from Mohammed Rasooldeen and Sharif Taha
Al-Azhar urges all Muslim nations to join alliance
Al-Azhar urges all Muslim nations to join alliance
Where We Are Going Today: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory in Dammam
Since returning to live in the Kingdom after years abroad with the best bakeries at my fingertips, I have been on a mission to find suitable sourdough locally. I sampled many mediocre ones, but one would rise above the rest: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory.
I first met founder Aisha Al-Omair at the Juthoor Farmer’s Market and tried her bread then. I liked it immediately.
“Ana Starter Sourdough Factory started as a passion for creating and fermenting the healthiest bread and introducing it to the Saudi market,” she told me at the time.
It began as a personal mission then expanded — like the dough — to serve the community.
“For a long time, I’ve suffered feeding my kids proper bread. The breads that were available at the supermarkets or at local bakeries had instant yeast, that never really took time to ferment, and therefore, when you consume the average bread, you notice some stiffening, you notice indigestion, you notice bloating and heartburn.”
Indeed, I did not feel any bloating or heartburn after devouring a slice or a few so I recently went on a quest to find more.
I ventured to Dammam to find her factory shop. It is a tiny slither of a place — I almost missed it while driving past factories in the Industrial City.
The shop comes with a decadent whiff of delicious bread.
Upon entering, you will see fridges stocked with bread and goodies like jams and butters (from other brands) that complement the bread well.
The sourdough offerings include jalapeno cheddar, zataar, plain and about a dozen other flavors.
The hassawi sourdough, made with local dates from neighboring Al-Ahsa, quickly became my favorite. It has little bits of dates tucked inside like tiny treasures.
Each slice is separated with a sheet, making it easy to freeze and pull out what you need without slices sticking together.
Fluffy with a rustic crust, it is great for sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or slathering with salted butter.
My freezer is now packed with loaves.
At around SR45 ($12) per loaf, the price is slightly steep for the local market, but the superior quality is worth the extra dough.
Each day, they post on Instagram Stories showing what is available for pickup — and the quantity of each item.
Ordering is easy: Send a DM to reserve a loaf, swing by the shop, or opt for delivery.
• For more details, check their Instagram @anaastarter.
