Two dead after small plane crashes into California building    Slovakia threatens to cut benefit for Ukrainians    Thousands attend vigil in Podgorica for 12 victims of Cetinje shooting rampage    Elon Musk sparks furor over support for British far-right instigator Tommy Robinson    Meghan announces new Netflix lifestyle show    Saudi trade surplus grows 30% to SR20.76 billion in October 2024    Saudi FM reaffirms support for all initiatives to ensure Syria's security and sovereignty    Courchevel subzone: An enchanting winter fun and adventure experience in Riyadh Boulevard World    Saudi Arabia secures $2.5 billion Shariah-compliant revolving credit facility    HR Ministry: 45% increase in wages of Saudis working in private sector    Al-Nassr sells Seko Fofana to Rennes after loan stint at Al-Ettifaq    NMC: Saudi Arabia witnessed strongest cold wave in 1992 with minus 9.3°C in Hail Temperatures to drop below zero in northern regions in coming days    SFDA warns against using SHTINE bottled water due to high bromate levels    Updated fee for Iqama renewal SR51.75 and reentry visa extension SR103.5 Absher Business introduces 7 fees for establishments    Bahrain and Oman to clash in Khaleeji Zain 26 final after stunning semi-final wins    Crypto fugitive Do Kwon extradited to US over $40bn crash    Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce deal    Philip Morris leverages tech, innovation for smoke-free world    Oman gear up for Saudi semi-final clash in Khaleeji Zain 26    Kuwait coach plots to topple former team Bahrain in Khaleeji Zain 26 semi-final    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    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    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.



We must all support the Saudi national campaign to combat the sectarian divide
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 30 - 05 - 2015


Samar Fatany
It is very critical at this stage to support the nationwide awareness campaign to combat sectarianism and extremism. Our society is greatly divided and continues to be burdened with intolerance and ultraconservatism. Our national security remains at risk.
Sectarianism, extremism, racism and intolerance have polluted the minds of our youth and have influenced the opinions of vulnerable people who do not have enough knowledge to know right from wrong. Society continues to be divided into two camps: the ultraconservatives who reject modernity and the progressive individuals who wish to accelerate reforms.
The government has waited too long to address the problem. Unfortunately, the inflammatory rhetoric in our media has also contributed to the spread of intolerance. Opinion leaders must now rise to the occasion and lead a constructive debate to influence change and unite the nation. The government should continue to take a strong stand against hardliners who attempt to impose their radical views on the whole of society.
Radical Islamists in our society do not recognize any basic human rights and are keen to preserve the status quo of extremism and intolerance. The government should take immediate action to denounce all of those who distort the minds and ideas of young people and spread hatred against the followers of different religious sects. We must not allow such fanatic ideology to reshape the common religious mindset of our youth and threaten our national unity.
Meanwhile, Saudi political analysts stress the need for more educated and experienced lawmakers who are innovative and can come up with more constructive policies to reform the educational sector. Social scientists conclude that some extremist teachers have misguided our youth with a jihadi militant ideology that has rejected other cultures and people who do not subscribe to their views. The government is called upon to scrutinize the performance of educators and the roles of officials in the field. Academic experts should be consulted to identify the shortcomings and failures in this important sector that determines the future of our youth.
Islamist militants and radical jihadists are a threat to all Muslims and are the real enemies of Islam. More and more militants from around the world have taken up arms to conquer Arab and Muslim lands. The silent majority of Muslims should not remain silent any longer; they need to stay vigilant to confront the enemy within and the evil instigators without who are out to destroy the peace and harmony of the Muslim world.
Saudi scholars of different sects and ideologies must promote the genuine message of Islamic tolerance. They need to come up with a stronger narrative to curb the spread of militant Islam and negate its anti-Islamic views.
Sadly Shariah experts today remain greatly divided. It is heartbreaking to watch Muslims in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen today remain in conflict and continue a bloodbath that seems to have no end. These militants subscribe to a radical ideology and an agenda that is destructive and evil.
We must unite to face this threat which is spreading all over the Muslim world. Al-Qaeda, Daesh, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Taliban and other terrorist organizations create dissent and chaos wherever they go. Unfortunately, Muslim societies have failed to promote people of leadership qualities, who are charismatic, wise, competent and above all have the moral integrity to confront the threatening conflicts of our time.
Hopefully, the emergence of moderate Saudi voices in the Council of Senior Ulema (CSU) and various imams of mosques, who openly denounce the jihadist ideology and extremism, can influence change and promote moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. The impact of these rejectionist voices who have maintained an ultraconservative interpretation that divides the world into Muslim and non-Muslim and rejects other sects within Islam remains a major threat in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Muslim world.
Today, our country can no longer afford to rely on incompetent officials and legislators who are not progressive and lack the wisdom to enact laws that can serve our political, economic and social needs. Our laws are also weak because of poor implementation and wrong strategies. The rule of law is fundamental to justice and without it only chaos and ignorance will prevail. Religious strife must be eliminated before it does further harm and destroys the social fabric of our society. There is no time to waste; the danger is real, our homeland security is under threat.
Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]


Clic here to read the story from its source.