Between Moderate Approach and Counter-Terrorism: Protecting Society is a National Responsibility
As I write this article, I do not present myself as an ascetic or a devout worshipper; rather, I am a human being who makes mistakes and achieves successes. However, it is my patriotic zeal that has compelled me today to highlight the emergence of an extremist current, fueled from abroad. We must take a firm stance against this blatant interference in the affairs and authentic traditions of our society, especially after it has extended to targeting our religious symbols and our rulers, forgetting that our blessed state, may God protect it, has embraced the moderate, centrist approach in all matters affecting and safeguarding society.
Following this approach, the state has fought religious extremism, rigidity that calls for terrorism, and societal fragmentation. Unfortunately, however, certain malicious groups have turned to “counter-extremism,” which is the other face of religious extremism. While the former advocates rigidity, counter-extremism calls for abandoning religion, disregarding obedience to parents, rejecting divine commands, and rebelling against the systems and laws established by the state to consolidate moderation and manage societal affairs. Its true aim is to incite ongoing conflict, undermine internal stability, and seek to abolish the moderate approach, replacing it with moral chaos.
News Services
This current is executing external agendas aimed at dismantling the Saudi family. The hashtag that recently appeared, calling for the removal of the face veil, is merely an example of such attempts, which were countered by the sons and daughters of the homeland with awareness. The efforts of young people revealed that most of the accounts tweeting under this hashtag were managed from outside the country, with the aim of fracturing national cohesion.
This reality requires us to stand with government agencies, represented by the “I’tidal Center” (Center for Moderation), to classify this subversive current among extremist groups, hold it accountable, and confront this threat.
We need decisive action along two main tracks: the first is enforcing the rule of law through deterrent legislation to repel this ideology; the second is raising societal awareness and fostering cooperation among educational institutions through schools to nurture conscious generations, and through pulpits in mosques to consolidate correct concepts, so as not to leave any opportunity for this group to gnaw at the body of society. Here, we recall the timeless methodology outlined by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, when he said: “There is no place among us for an extremist who views moderation as decadence and exploits our lenient creed to achieve his goals, nor for a decadent person who sees our war on extremism as a means to spread decadence and exploit the ease of religion to achieve his aims.”
A Kuwaiti writer
