We are repulsed by extremist ideology: Turki Al-Dakhil

New York — The United Nations hosted a ceremony in which it honored the frontrunners of the international campaign to combat extremism on Sept. 22 at its headquarters in New York. “Hero Awards” was presented to a wide range of women and men who were role models in leading the fight against violent extremism across the world. Turki Al-Dhakil, a Saudi journalist and media figure, also received the award. He is currently the General Manager of Al Arabiya Television News Network in Dubai. He is also the owner of Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre and Madarek Publishing House in Dubai. Here's his acceptance speech: "Gracious hosts, distinguished guests, dearest friends: I am deeply grateful for the honor of this award. I would like to thank my family: my father, my late mother, my wife, and my children. I also thank the country that inspired me to confront hatred and seek peace: my homeland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was among the first to be targeted by the evils of extremism and terror. There is a widespread and unjust portrayal of Saudi Arabia as a place of great intolerance. But in truth, the vast majority of our people are repulsed by extremist ideology, and pained by the suffering it causes. To young men and women throughout our nation, extremism is like an illness: It could infect my wife, my son, my daughter, or me. It must not be allowed to spread. Yet today, extremists use cutting-edge tools, from social media to video games, to recruit followers more effectively than ever. In their fanaticism, they have gone so far as to brainwash children to kill their own parents. Picture a little boy murdering the mother who bore him and nursed him. Can there be any greater evil? In 2003, after the deadly Al-Qaeda bombing of housing compounds in Riyadh, I published an open letter to Bin Laden and his followers: “Congratulations — you have terrified us.” It was a way of confronting the extremists, as well as my broader audience, with the ugliness of Al-Qaeda’s achievements. My father read it and told me, “Son, why do you have to confront such people? They have no mercy and no conscience.” I told him, “I want to defend our children’s future.” Yet even then, I did not realize how viciously and rapidly the threat would expand. Young people in my country regard the goal of defeating extremism as the great challenge of our generation. We stand united — and we extend our hands in partnership to all peoples of the world in this just and urgent campaign. Thank you again."