Manama: A Saudi painter has sent a powerful message of unity by painting a mural in the town of Qadeeh where a suicide bomber killed 21 worshippers inside a mosque.
Ahmad Zuhair, who achieved national and international fame by drawing a mural of the late King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, used the wall of the cemetery where the blast victims were buried to highlight his anti-sectarianism message, local news site Al Marsad reported on Tuesday.
“No to Sectarianism” was drawn at the top of the mural followed by a drawing of the Quran, and the verse “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”
Zuhair said that he condemned the dramatic incident on Friday and that he wanted the mural to express this feeling.
He added that it was meant to highlight the significance of national unity and solidarity among all communities during trying times.
“I want through the mural to emphasise the need to confront all attempts to sow divisions and incitement among the sons of Saudi Arabia,” he said. “What happened here in Qadeeh has in fact afflicted the whole nation. I am really grateful that I have been accorded a warm and gracious hospitality in this town and the residents have been truly respectful. I wish to thank them for helping in conveying my message and I pray that we continue to enjoy peace and security,” he said.
Tens of thousands of mourners poured into the streets of eastern Saudi Arabia on Monday to attend a mass funeral for victims of last week’s attack, attendees said.
Chanting religious slogans and carrying banners denouncing sectarianism, the mourners made their way with the victims’ bodies along a route to a cemetery in the village of Al Qadeeh, in the oil-rich eastern Qatif region.
Monday’s procession was a chance to mourn and to speak out.
Participants described a strong sense of solidarity, with volunteers handing out cold drinks along the procession route.
Mourners were bused in from surrounding towns and villages, including Al Ahsa, where eight Shiite worshippers were killed in a shooting attack in November that was also blamed on Daesh. Some came from as far as neighboring Bahrain and Kuwait.
“People were working together to make this funeral successful. They feel this should not be forgotten,” said Salam Almarhoon, a law student from Safwa. “We see the sword on our neck.”
- with inputs from AP
