Dr. Zuhair Kutbi Okaz newspaper The article titled “Goodbye, Mazin,” by Dr. Hashim Abdu Hashim published in Okaz newspaper was about the Saudi youth Mazin Muhammad Masawee who was executed in Iraq one month ago. The writer raises several questions that deserve pondering and then he himself answers them. He said: “There has been a wave of misunderstanding of the meaning of jihad and that continues to lead people like Mazin to the gallows. Occasionally ill-intentioned individuals push them to face this destiny, and therefore, we have to ask ourselves about what has to be done. “What we have to do in this country is to block campaigns that are potentially misleading, seductive and appealing to young men. We have so far not heard about any criminal charges implicating people who are behind such campaigns that led our youth to the gallows. This is to deter others and ensure recovery of the community from this scourge.” I totally agree with what Dr. Hashim had proposed. This stage requires emergency surgery to be performed by our scholars and jurisprudents by clarifying and explaining the true conditions and obligations for jihad and when it is permissible, as well as the role of ruler either in sanctioning it or not. Those who pushed Mazin and encouraged him to get out of his homeland to engage in jihad in our neighboring country were not executed with him. Mazin left the country without having the permission of its rulers. But who are the proponents of jihadi ideologies that lure our sons and push their innocent minds to commit murder in the name of jihad? Yes. This misleading campaign and culture of extremism that disregards the lives of the youth must be stopped. I totally agree with Dr. Hashim on the question: Why aren't any of these jihadi extremists hanged? We should not ignore the real problem, that is the ability of jihadists to influence the minds of our children. Several writers had earlier warned against the potential danger of such types of extremism, militancy and hard line views, because they were instrumental in causing calamities like an earthquake. God willing, we are confident that Saudi society would recover from this scourge despite efforts to lead our children to ruin. The strength of our country is in the strength of our children's minds and that strength will prevent a recurrence of this tragedy. Saudi families have to play a major role in preventing their children from taking part in such acts and not allow them out of the country for unexplained reasons. The security authorities must be informed about unexplained disappearance of such youths. The execution of jihadists in Iraq is a mark of Iraq's tyranny, aggression and arrogance. The jihadists have become more dangerous to security than Al-Qaeda. There are hidden truths that have been exposed through the execution of Mazin. Hence, it is imperative that these so-called jihadists be ferreted out and brought to justice.
