RIYADH, 2 April 2004 — Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University wants to correct “misconceptions” after it came under attack recently when it emerged that a number of terror suspects on the government’s most-wanted list are alumni of the Riyadh-based institution.
To do that, it is holding an international conference on terrorism, violence and extremism issues from an Islamic perspective here from April 20 to 23.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamoud, head of the university’s media committee, told Arab News one objective of the conference was to uncover the roots of these issues. It would show that they are the outcome of a distorted logic against which Muslim scholars throughout the ages have warned, he said.
Other aims are to project Islam as a religion of moderation and justice, and to explain the legal position of Islam on recent events.
The conference will also seek to clarify misconceptions about the university itself.
Several of the terror suspects on a list of 26 issued by the government after the November 2003 bombings in Riyadh were alumni of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University, raising suspicions that the institution fosters extremism.
Dr. Al-Hamoud said 130 participants from the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, India and the Kingdom will participate in the conference, for which some 50 papers have been received.
Although the medium of communication will be Arabic, there will be simultaneous translation in English for foreign delegates.
