Experts: Bar sympathizers of extremism from schools

Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Legal experts and academics are calling for further measures to protect schoolchildren from destructive ideologies. While commending the Ministry of Education for instructing schools not to accept books and other publications as gifts, they said more needs to be done. Faculty member at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University in Riyadh Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Afaifi did not mince his words when he emphasized that the protection must go beyond the ban on books. “We aspire to prevent people holding this type of views from teaching our children," he said. He pointed out that the Ministry of Education should continue to address these trends and make the best choices for students. Al-Afaifi said freeing schools from books that promote the ideologies of Muslim Brotherhood was an excellent step. "This emerging generation is our responsibility and we must guide them properly," said Al-Afaifi, noting that the Ministry of Education's warning came at a time "when the nation needs greater awareness with regard to books and ideas that incite the hearts and minds of young people and that is where the danger lies." He said the decision reflects a strong sense of responsibility toward young people. "What we experience today is only the product of the poisoned minds. These books, whether stated explicitly or implicitly, are replete with the language of violence, false interpretations, abuse of law and incitement," he added. Professor of Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Chair for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice studies Sheikh Ghazi Al-Mutairi agreed. He said prevention alone was not enough since these books have become affordable and accessible through online sites. "Prevention was important, but other steps must follow it," he said. Al-Mutairi said young people should receive intellectual and cultural immunity from an early age to get them to the top level of protection. This requires the gradual presentation of intellectual issues, which takes into account the age of children. Al-Mutairi suggested a protection mechanism through discussions and dialogues with young people about issues plaguing society. He believes that extremist thinking can only be fought through intellectual engagement "because prevention alone in our time has become limited in influence and effectiveness". Media adviser at Imam University Abdulrahman Al-Nami said society must build an awareness fence to fortify the minds of young people from all misconceptions, mold their character and foster their mental abilities so as not to be affected by these ideas. "This requires schools and education establishments to contribute to the process effectively," he said.