JEDDAH, 21 June 2003 — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, received in Jeddah yesterday the religious scholars and thinkers who took part in the National Forum for Dialogue, which was held at King Abdul Aziz Library on June 15-18.
The group presented to the crown prince a summary of the main points of discussion of the forum, which emphasized scientific debate, candor and objectivity.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of moderation in Islamic speech, which reflected the Kingdom’s efforts to implement Islamic teachings in all its dealings.
The president of the Holy Mosques Affairs and chairman of the forum, Sheikh Saleh Al-Hussayin, handed the crown prince the concluding statement of the forum and its recommendations.
The crown prince thanked the participating religious scholars and thinkers for their role in fostering national unity in Saudi Arabia.
He urged citizens to avoid disunity and prejudice, whether emanating from tribalism, regionalism, ideological differences, or from any form of extremism.
The forum was convened at the request of Saudi intellectuals to discuss matters concerning the unity of the Kingdom and to address other challenges to the nation. It also aimed at moderating discord.
The forum took as its guidelines the address of the crown prince to the forum. The prince in his address had recognized the danger of fierce attacks targeting the Kingdom’s religious beliefs and national unity.
He stressed that intellectual diversity was an important part of human nature and a reality of life. It should be invested in service to the Kingdom’s goals.
He said rapid technological development, especially in information technology, and the unhindered flow of information resulting from it required new means of protecting religion, the country and its citizens.
The crown prince urged that the country’s pronouncements both domestically and internationally should reflect its adherence to Islam, its close relations with the Muslim world and its national unity within a framework of moderation.
The forum, he added, should pursue national dialogue in a calm and objective manner and in an atmosphere free of conflict and ill intentions.
The recommendations of the forum were:
• Ulema, preachers, university professors and students should advise and direct people toward the right path using all available means including the media while developing ways of preaching that correspond to human concerns.
• The concept of the forum should be expanded to involve more participants at different levels so as to establish a center for national dialogue which could serve as a think tank, organizing meetings and carrying out research. The participants would welcome it if the crown prince formally adopted this proposal.
• National unity should be protected based on Islam, and the meaning of allegiance and loyalty to its rulers should be consolidated to ensure unity and security.
• The leading position of the ulema in ensuring national unity and in correcting any deviation in society based on the true understanding of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah should be ensured.
• The base for national unity was addressing people’s daily concerns, as was ensuring balanced development in all regions, caring for the rural areas through the provision of basic services and addressing the problem of weak performance of government bodies, especially those dealing with people’s needs.
The forum further recommended that the Kingdom should:
• Continue developing the educational system to achieve national unity and protect the Islamic identity.
• Work on solving problems facing women and reflect the true image of Muslim women.
• Take into consideration the problems of the young in development plans and increase efforts to solve them.
• Take account of the role of the media in strengthening national unity and respect for scholars.
• Continue with the reform process and expand public participation.
• Recognize the importance of dialogue as a way of expressing opinions, and affirm that differences in opinion and intellectual diversity are universal.
• Guarantee the freedom of expression as long as it does not conflict with the Shariah.
• Establish research programs to support fatwas (religious edicts) and to form fatwa committees in every area.
• Be aware of the regional and international situation.
• Work on explaining the meaning of jihad so that no one misunderstands the concept.
The forum also condemned the latest attacks on Saudis and foreign residents as criminal acts and affirmed that resisting the Israeli occupation is the right of the Palestinians. The forum voiced its support for the Saudi effort to aid the Palestinian cause until they regain their full rights.
