Turki Al Faisal: Our support is for Iranian people
Al Arabiya English Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s former intelligence chief, expressed his support for the Iranian people in calling for the downfall of Iran’s theocratic regime at the Paris-based rally “Free Iran” on Saturday.
Who is Turki and why does he matter?
Turki serves as chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies and has previously served as ambassador to the United States. He also served as the Director of the General Intelligence. He is the eighth and youngest son of King Faisal, who ruled Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975.
Turki Al Faisal_ Our support is for Iranian people, not regime – Al Arabiya English
The Al Saud family has thus far refrained from engaging the Iranian people, which is perhaps the most ardent Iranian-borne opponent of the theocracy that currently rules Iran. In the years leading up to and immediately following the Iranian Revolution, the Iranian people was one of the largest political forces within Iran.
Al Faisal reflected on the history of friendship and cooperation between Arabs and the Iranian people as he spoke before a gathering of more than 100,000 Iranian opposition activists. He also underlined the religious, cultural and language aspects they share even now.
Al Faisal voiced his support for the Iranian people in efforts to remove what he called the the “legitimate struggle against Khomeini’s regime”, referring to the founder of the Islamic Republic, saying the “suffering and humiliation of the Iranian people” should come to an end.
The prince also asserte/ that the Muslim world stands to support the Iranian people’s cause both ‘in heart and soul’.
Turki Bin Faisal: We Stand With Iranian people ,With Heart And Soul’
The Saudi prince and diplomat, who was among the event’s main speakers, said he held the current regime responsible for ongoing tensions between Iranian people and Arab states, as a result of intervening in their own internal affairs.
And as he recalled the history of various Iranian regimes, he noted the reasons why Iran had been isolated.
He criticized Khomeini’s “isolationist and interventionist foreign policy,” saying it had deepened the gap among the Islamic world.
His speech received an enthusiastic response from a chanting crowd.
Originally published by Al Arabiya English
