RIYADH, 21 November 2003 — Scholars, Shariah judges and preachers will attempt to counter extremist ideas among terror suspects, Minister of Education Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed has confirmed.
The Islamic scholars want to persuade suspects arrested both before and after the May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh that their extremist ideology is based on a profound misunderstanding of the teachings of Islam, according to Al-Riyadh newspaper.
The scholars are to conduct seminars and lectures at Al-Haer prison in the capital, where most of the suspects are held. Sources told the newspaper that the sessions will offer the prisoners a forum for frank discussion of ideas. This would enable scholars to correct the ideas which allowed the terrorists to become a tool in the hands of the Al-Qaeda leadership, the paper added.
Dr. Al-Rasheed told Okaz newspaper the sessions had been formally approved. He added that a committee had been set up to lay down the details and methodology for the sessions and would begin work after Eid Al-Adha.
