http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=94972&d=14&m=4&y=2007&pix=opinion.jpg&category=Opinion
Saturday, 14, April, 2007 (26, Rabi` al-Awwal, 1428)
The Menace of Fanaticism
Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is to address
the Shoura Council today. Undoubtedly, a portion of his speech will touch upon
the government's war on terror.
Along similar lines, Prince Naif, the minister of interior,
stated last week that the government's battle against extremism would broaden
in scope to include those clerics who are found guilty of spreading militant
messages among the youth, and directing them toward the path of intolerance and
subsequent violence.
Calling it a "virus", the minister declared that extremism
was still flourishing in the Kingdom in spite of the government's pronounced
war on such an ideology.
He stated that "the people who consider such clerics to be
their spiritual guides have to stop doing so and return to their senses."
Continuing on, he said: "The authorities concerned are aware
of the situation and will deal with the misguided extremists. The government
considers them a greater threat than the actual perpetrators of terrorism.
"Without efficient and positive action from Saudi scholars,
clerics, mosque imams, thinkers, newspapers and television channels, we cannot
develop and strengthen ideological security."
Following the minister's statements that appeared in the
press, the Saudi Council of Ministers two days later exhorted the media and
other cultural agencies within the Kingdom to play a pivotal role in the
campaign to rid Saudi Arabia of extremist ideologies.
"The media and cultural agencies must do more in confronting
the phenomenon of terrorism, by rooting out terrorist ideology and addressing
social and international factors that promote terrorism," was the statement
attributed to them by the official Saudi Press Agency.
The Kingdom has recognized the dangers of radical fanaticism
to our society and has publicly launched a zero-tolerance drive to rid itself
of the threat posed by those spreading the message of "takfeer", which labels
anyone not following their interpretations of Islam as non-Muslim. That is all
well and good.
Although the task on hand is enormous, it is encouraging to
residents of this country to witness such public statements by those in
authority. The decades 1980s and 1990s witnessed the emergence and flourishing
of conservative and extreme ideologies that held the citizens hostage.
Such views were promoted in the name of Islam, and woe to
anyone who dared question such an ideology.
The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of
Vice has admitted in recent times that some of its members concealed their
radical ideologies behind their badges and stamped their authority on everyday
matters (something outside their mandate) creating mistrust and hostility
within the minds of people. The public dared not challenge their command.
Religious edicts (fatwas) were being issued by self-appointed
clerics on everyday matters coupled with threats of hell and damnation, and
some radical teachers infiltrated our schools to poison young and
impressionable minds.
There is no denying that this held our country back when it
should have moved forward.
And those who publicly opposed such a conversion were
hounded.
Vicious campaigns of slander were mounted against those who
promoted moderation. Even some news media personnel were victimized when their
writings against fanaticism raised enough ire among radical elements of our
society, and had to seek out other professions.
It is time the public joined the campaign against extremism
and put a stop to the message of fanaticism.
The message Islam has taught us is to be tolerant with
everyone, and that includes those who are not Muslims.
Turning people toward intolerance is not Islamic, and those
who preach such messages are misguided to say the least.
While I endorse the government's public call to the media to
help stamp out this menace from within, it must be done rationally and without
prejudice. Those among us who seek a better tomorrow for all of us will
wholeheartedly heed the call.
