Riyadh project to eliminate extremism

Saudi Arabia is working on a project to eliminate extremism from the society, the Saudi Minister for Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Guidance and Call, Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdul Aziz Aal Al Sheikh, revealed in an interview with a local Arabic daily. The plan would be implemented in a series of campaigns over a period of three years.

The anti-extremism project envisages the utilisation of the services of Ulema (religious scholars), mosque imams, preachers, scholars, Dawa workers in addition to writers, poets, playwrights, historians and journalists.

When asked if he considered attacking other religious doctrines including Shiism as extremism, Sheikh Saleh said there is no doubt that reviling Islamic doctrines is a form of extremism.

"Reviling and abusing others is un-Islamic and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has prohibited it. Dialogue is the best way of for dealing with those whose ideas and convictions are different from ours and there are Islamic schools of thought that are within the parameters of Sunnah and general consensus, and there are others like Shiism, which are outside the Sunnah and consensus, but reviling them is irreligious and hence undesirable. We have to talk to them and argue with them for the common good," the minister said.

"I am convinced that moderate Shariah application is the sure way for continued adherence to it, and so we have decided to devote all energies for combating extremism. As extremism has varied causes, all sections of population must take part in diagnosing and revolving it," he added.

Sheikh Saleh also rejected the term "Wahabism", saying the term never existed.

"None of our religious scholars ever used this term," he said, noting that the 18th century reform movement of Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Wahab did not aim to create a new school of thought."