TAIF: Sheikh Salih Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussayen, President of the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue, has said that freedom of expression “builds nations when used positively by the media”. “The media,” he said, “has a power to influence not possessed by the strongest military, political or economic force.” Al-Hussayen made the remarks at the opening in Taif Wednesday of the ninth National Dialogue meeting. “Uncontrolled freedom of expression at first gives life to the media but then turns into something akin to a lethal poison,” he said. “Freedom of expression without limits makes it lose its true meaning.” He described freedom of expression as a “responsibility” and “one of the demands of Islam”. “It is controlled at the same time in the sense that it should be consistent with the truth, and that its source is not the unknown or rumor or people's prevailing opinion. It must come from science, as far as man is capable, to reach the truth and knowledge. It must then speak with the learned science and not go off into the emotions, whether good or bad.” The dialogue sessions, held under the title “Media and Reality, Ways of Development”, are broadcast live on television and involve speakers and attendees from all facets of society. Fahd Al-Sultan, deputy secretary general of the Center for National Dialogue, said ahead of the Taif meetings that “no names are barred from taking part”. “The National Dialogue makes every effort not to have the same names reappearing in order to involve the largest number of new persons and have them bring new ideas and different convictions,” Al
