By Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has said moderation has always been the pattern in all religious, political, economic, educational, cultural and social domains of the Kingdom.

The emir was speaking after distributing awards among winners of the special contest for moderation at King Abdulaziz University here on Sunday. The event was attended by Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal Bin Majed; Deputy Emir of Makkah, Prince Abdullah Bin Bandar, and other officials.

Prince Khaled thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, for the innumerable measures they have initiated for the upliftment of Saudi citizens. The progress and development of the Kingdom is being viewed with awe and admiration throughout the world, he said. “The road is paved for all to reach the spectacular position were are aspiring to attain,” he said.

Khaled Al-Faisal Center for moderation started as a chair in the university seven years ago after a speech by the emir. It has now become a full-fledged facility. “The same speech I delivered at the Islamic University in Madinah following which a chair for moderation was established. The chair has now become a center which has prizes for the works of moderation,” Prince Khaled added.

The award committee received about 372 works which all focused on fighting extremism and attaining moderation. The prize consisted of SR200,000 for short films, SR100,000 for the cartoons, SR50,000 for photography, SR50,000 for digital arts, SR100,000 for the statistical studies, SR150,000 for translation, SR100,000 for the individual creative works and SR150,000 for the institutional works of creativity.

Abdul Rahman bin Obaid Al-Youbi, president of the university, said the prize for moderation was distinctive in its vision and objectives through enticing individuals and institutions to come up with moderate creative works.

He said this was the first year in which the awards were distributed and said more annual awards for the moderate creative works will follow.