Saudi experience to help Arab countries confront deviant ideologies: Naif

Saudi experience to help Arab countries confront deviant ideologies: Naif Arab News

JEDDAH: Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif said yesterday that the national strategy to confront ideological deviation would set the base for an Arab strategy in this regard. "All Arab countries face similar challenges. The Arab world needs a clear strategy to ensure intellectual security," he said. Prince Naif stressed that deviant thoughts promote crimes. "Therefore, the prevention of deviation in thinking should be the first step to achieve intellectual security," he said. Identifying such deviation, whatever its direction and reasons, early enough would increase the ability to cure them, he added. "Deviancy in thinking is like certain dangerous diseases that can be cured if we are able to diagnose and treat them properly before they reach an advanced stage," he explained. Prince Naif expressed his hope that deviant thoughts could be stopped through proper education, dialogue, academic curricula and various informational, cultural and religious activities. Saudi Arabia has made big progress in fighting intellectual deviancy, compared to other countries hit by terrorism, Prince Naif said. "Our counselors have been successful in changing the mindset of many militants and extremists," he said. Prince Naif stressed the role of educational institutions in deepening moderate values among young men and women, and promoting constructive dialogue with them. "The move to confront deviant thoughts not only aims at fighting religious extremism but also all other forms of deviation such as drug abuse, financial crimes and disobedience to parents," he said. Prince Naif hoped that the national conference on intellectual security, which opens in Riyadh tomorrow, would come out with recommendations to protect the young generation from deviant thoughts. "The best way to ensure intellectual security is the protection of one's Islamic faith through correct and solid thinking," the prince said. Prince Naif said the national strategy for intellectual security would serve as a basis for preparing an Arab strategy for the purpose. The challenges facing Arab countries are similar, he added. Prince Naif, who will open the conference on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, said the open-door policy adopted by the Saudi leadership since the time of King Abdul Aziz played a role in bolstering security in the country. "King Abdullah's support for this conference comes as part of his efforts to develop and modernize all sectors and agencies of the state," the prince said. "This support also reflects the leadership's keenness to ensure the security of the nation and its people." He called for making use of the findings of scientific research and strengthening cooperation among the related agencies. "We should promote a culture of intellectual security. It will have a tremendous impact," he said. "Intellectual security aims at protecting youth from falling prey to groups who want to use them as a means to harm their country and its interests," Prince Naif said. He said some families had succeeded in bringing back their children who had gone astray. He said modern technology had contributed to increasing intellectual deviancy. "This is a big challenge for those who work to protect the country. Intellectual security has become a hotly debated issue among scholars, thinkers and security officers around the world," Prince Naif said.