Road accident deaths drop by 50% in Saudi Arabia    SR 3.95 million fines for 3 employees of a company and 6-month jail for one for violating Capital Market Law    Qassim emir launches 52 health projects costing a total of SR456 million    BD and INS partner to elevate standards of infusion care in MENAT    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    GASTAT: Passengers of public transport bus and train soar 176% and 33% respectively in 2023    Fakeeh Care Group reports 9M-2024 net profit of SR195.3 million, up 49% y-o-y driven by solid revenue growth and robust profitability    Italy's 'Libra' to arrive in Albania with just eight migrants on board    South Africa shuts border crossing with Mozambique over poll unrest    French families sue TikTok over harmful content that allegedly led to suicides    Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Crown Prince hails Saudi medical team that performed world's first fully robotic heart transplant    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sectarianism must not erode the social fabric of our society
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 16 - 01 - 2016

The recent executions of convicted terrorists in Saudi Arabia sent a strong signal that the Kingdom will not tolerate any violence or terrorist activities on its soil. The expanding control of Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS) in vast territories in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya and elsewhere has reached a dangerous level and the Kingdom cannot allow the perpetrators of violence to spread their evil into our land.
Political scientists and military and security experts urge a complete rethinking of existing counterterrorism policies and assert that the challenge today is to develop new defenses against the amorphous and threatening terrorist phenomenon.
Terrorists continue to radicalize the youth of all nationalities, persuading them to go to Syria to work with their organizations. They have been particularly successful in recruiting members through social media. Terror groups rely on Twitter and Facebook to reach out to potential recruits among our youth and those in the rest of the world.
Social scientists support an open dialogue with young people because they believe that it provides a glimpse into their mindset. They maintain that governments must address the frustrations of the youth and eliminate the obstacles that stand in the way of their aspirations. Parents and civil society are also urged to pay more attention to the needs of young people and provide them with guidelines that protect them from devious cyber-terrorist propaganda.
Community leaders need to address the social ills that have led Saudi youth to join Daesh and turn hostile against their community and environment. It is important to engage the young in the global fight against terror and encourage their participation in programs with innovative ideas to counter terrorist destructive designs and violent attitudes. Such initiatives can certainly have a more credible and positive impact.
Meanwhile, both the state and academic institutions have a responsibility to inform and educate the public about the danger that lies within. The role of educators cannot be stressed enough in this process. Government efforts to upgrade the skills of educators and to instill in them the Muslim values of moderation and tolerance are vital initiatives to combat the prevalent sectarian and racist divide that poses a dangerous threat to our security and social stability.
What is happening around us in war-torn countries indicates that these terrorist organizations continue to gain their strength from global and regional support and, therefore, we must take every precaution not to allow them to infiltrate our homeland. They operate under the guise of Islamic slogans but their actions are brutal and blatantly violate Islamic principles and universal human rights. They butcher and torture innocent people and call it Islam to demonize and tarnish our faith.
It is critical at this stage to mobilize a stronger united front of moderate reformers to combat the radical ideology that is a threat not only to Saudi Arabia but to the whole region. The public should be more alert and more involved in confronting the toxic mentality of Daesh sympathizers among us. A stronger sense of patriotism and better citizenship should be encouraged.
Extremism is fundamentally an ideological crisis. It needs to be addressed more openly and effectively by moderate rhetoric and less inflammatory language so as not to further radicalize and incite different groups against each other. A new approach of accepting and respecting the differences between all segments in society is critical. More determined efforts by religious scholars can put an end to hostilities and eliminate the tension and divisions that threaten the nation's stability. Tolerance must be maintained to protect the social cohesion of our society.
Sectarian conflicts have dragged other countries into civil wars that have no end. The media and opinion leaders are called upon to act in a more responsible way and strive to create a spirit of solidarity between the different factions of society rather than drive them apart by inflammatory accusations that cause further divisions and mistrust.
Muslim scholars and researchers must not give up on reaching a consensus that could guide the Muslim nation toward peace and global coexistence.
The uncertainties and anxieties that are prevalent in the Middle East today are a source of great concern. Political analysts assert that the immediate challenge is restoring stability and calming people's concerns about looming threats of war in the rest of the region.
The Arab and Muslim world is in crisis. There should be no delay in mobilizing an Arab Muslim alliance to confront the dangers within and the alarming dubious external threats surrounding us. The public must remain vigilant and aware of the existing danger. Protecting our homeland security should be the responsibility of all of the citizens of this country - men, women, the old and the young. God bless our holy land.
Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]


Clic here to read the story from its source.