Samar Fatany
The campaign titled Ehna Al-Ahl (We Are One Family) organized by social development committees in the Eastern Province is a positive initiative that needs wider support to promote patriotism and strengthen national unity.
Society can never achieve prosperity and the country will not progress without the implementation of a strong united national front to overcome the challenges that are blocking the path of the transformation plan.
Promoting the values of peaceful coexistence, respecting the views of others and accepting differences of opinion and rejecting sectarianism and division are national priorities.
We must promote the acceptance of diversity in society. Awareness campaigns can play a significant role in reducing the influence of rejectionist voices and creating a consensus to foster national unity. Decision makers should address the political and social challenges of factionalism and sectarianism by acknowledging and accepting differences, rather than denying or suppressing them.
The Council of Senior Ulema, which represents the consensus of officially recognized senior Islamic scholars, has a responsibility to reject ultraconservative interpretations that influence ongoing divisions between sects. It is critical to preach mutual respect and dignity among all citizens, denouncing incitement, violence and intolerance. The religious environment can become dangerous when unqualified scholars promote sectarian discord.
Opinion leaders should rise to the occasion and address the existing sensitivities with respect to sectarian differences. The fact that a considerable segment of society rejects other sects can be detrimental to our national unity. Members of society in every region must stand united against the forces of evil who do not have the interest of our country in mind.
More awareness campaigns are needed to confront the conflicts that surround us and the evil forces that instigate turmoil and war. Wider acceptance and tolerance of diversity of opinions is the key to national prosperity.
The role of the media is essential in educating the masses and replacing inflammatory sectarian rhetoric with a new narrative that strongly rejects all ideologies and thoughts that spread hatred against those who hold different opinions.
Unfortunately, there has been little effort to recognize diversity within the Kingdom. Political analysts urge the need for new strategies to spread tolerance and respect to alternative interpretations of Islam. Government reformers need to remove the cultural barriers and eliminate the spread of sectarian discord. Decision makers should take a more active role in combating extremism, racism and sectarian conflicts. These cancers threaten the social fabric and can jeopardize the future of this country.
Opinion leaders in Qatif, where a terrorist attack killed innocent worshippers in a Shia mosque, have welcomed the Ehna Al-Ahl campaign and have reiterated their support for Prince Saud Bin Naif the Emir of the Eastern Province. They acknowledge his efforts to strengthen unity among the various segments of society and emphasize their allegiance to the Saudi leadership. However, they warn against people who create disunity and have an agenda. They assert that the attack in Al-Ahsa was also the result of the sectarian discord that is going on in the region. The way to enhance patriotism and national coexistence is to defuse tensions between Sunnis and Shias and hold the instigators of hate accountable for their negative attitudes. The Eastern Province campaign should have more support and should be conducted on a wider scale to educate the public about the consequences of the spread of sectarian hatred within our society.
Hopefully, the government departments that are participating in the campaign can be instrumental in achieving national unity and putting an end to factionalism that remains a major threat to national security.
