Imams, preachers urged to help fight extremism

[bamalli]

Imams, preachers urged to help fight extremism

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Saleh Al-Asheikh
lauded the efforts made by the Ministry of Interior to round up deviants and
terror suspects.

"The discovery of terror plots and pre-emptive strikes on militants by the
Interior Ministry have succeeded in protecting people's lives and
properties. The ministry`s action nipped in the bud terrorists` plan to
create chaos," Al-Asheikh said in a statement commenting on the arrest of
hundreds of Al-Qaeda cadres during the past several months who were plotting
terror attacks on oil faci-lities and other vital installations.

The minister also emphasized the need for the society and religious
establishments to join the fight against terrorism. He said not just the
Kingdom but several other Muslim countries, were facing the problem.

"Some of our young people have taken to branding people, including religious
leaders as heretics," the minister said. "Their negative propaganda and
undue criticism of religious leaders should be countered effectively. We
should also protect our young people from the reach of the proponents of
deviant ideologies before they are influenced by them." The minister
underlined the role of the society in countering extremism.

"The first responsibility lies with the family and then the imams at
mosques," he said. "It is the duty of the imams and preachers to revive the
role of mosques in protecting the youth from deviant ideologies. The mosques
should take up the task of neutralizing the extremist ideologies. Extremism
is, undoubtedly, far removed from the teachings of Islam," he said.

"The imams can protect the young people from being influenced by evil
ideologies, and the preachers should take steps to guide them. The preachers
should inform their parents, relatives and religious scholars about them so
that they can be saved from the clutches of extremists. Our young people
should love their Lord and obey Him and follow the Prophet (peace be upon
him). They should adhere to the constructive social norms." The minister
also cited the examples of the early Muslims who kept themselves aloof from
extremist tendencies and movements.

The grand mufti had on Thursday urged citizens and residents to take the
Al-Qaeda threat seriously and join hands with the Kingdom`s security forces
in defeating the group.