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Memorandum of Interview

Interviewee: Shaikh Saleh bin AbduIaziz Al Ashaikh

Interview Date: October 13, 2003
Interview Location: Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Endowments, Islamic Call, and Guidance;
Riyadh
Treat as: Commission Sensitive
Interview write-up: Dieter Snell
Reviewed by: Philip Zelikow

On October 13, 2003 at approximately 7:00 pm, Philip

Zelikow and Dietrich Snell met with Shaikh Saleh bin
Abdulaziz Al Ashaikh (Ashaikh), Saudi Arabian Minister for
Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Islamic Call, and Guidance, at
his offices in Riyadh. Also in attendance was Matthew H.
Tueller, Political Counselor of the United States Embassy,
plus two officials from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. Dr. F.NU Maqbani served as Arabic-English
interpreter for the entire interview.

After brief welcoming remarks, Ashaikh provided an overview

of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call, and
Guidance (MIA) which was created by King Fahd in or about
1993 (1414 in the Islamic calendar) in the wake of the war
in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. The Ministry was
established as part of an effort by the Saudi government to
consolidate its various offices with responsibility for the
administration of matters involving Islam outside the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The following year, the
government formed the Supreme Council on Religious Affairs
to assist the MIA in organizing its work. In addition to
Ashaikh, the Council includes the heads of other leading
governmental branches, such as the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Interior, and Intelligence, and is chaired by
Minister of Defense Prince sultan. The Council is
responsible for approving work done abroad on Islamic
matters, and the MIA helps effectuate policies adopted in
this area.

In this regard, Ashaikh cited conferences sponsored by the

MIA, in Denmark (3-4 days before 9!11) and more recently in
Johannesburg, which Nelson Mandela attended. Ashaikh also
mentioned a recent MIA conference on Islam and minorities
in the West I which stressed the importance of recogni zing
that Islam can and should adapt to the environment it

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encounters in any particular society . The conference
resulted in a paper published by MIA .

• 9/11 Classified Information

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• 9/11 Classified Information

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• 9/11 Classified Information

Ashaikh stated that combating terrorism is not just the

work of the United States. He highlighted the toll
terrorism has taken within the KSA, where terrorists have
killed Muslims at the Grand Mosque itself. Since 1979, the
KSA has managed, in large part, to control terrorism
internallYI but the problem has gained severity following-
the war against the soviets in Afghanistan.

In conclusion, Ashaikh stated that he was very pleased with

our meeting and emphasized the desire of the Saudi
government and its people for enhanced understanding and
partnership with the US in tending the ~garden" of Islam
and ridding it of the pesta that now plague it .. He
predicted a long but ultimately victorious struggle against
terrorism.
• The meeting concluded at approximately 8:40 pm .

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