JEDDAH, 9 September 2007 — Seventy-three researchers from the Arab world, the United States, Europe, Russia and Japan are working to publish books under a Saudi-financed international project aimed at removing misconceptions about Islam and the Kingdom.
“The project will be launched shortly with the publication of eight books,” said Mohammed ibn Saud Al-Bishr, head of the scientific team for the project. He said the project was initiated by a group of Saudi intellectuals to confront smear campaigns against Islam and Saudi Arabia.
“Most of the writings and talks about Saudi Arabia and Islam are not based on facts and lacked objectivity and integrity,” he said.
He said the books would be launched in Riyadh, London and Paris in order to achieve maximum publicity. It will be accompanied by seminars attended by Saudi and foreign intellectuals and academics.
The eight books are: “Address to the West: Views from Saudi Arabia”; “Saudis and Terrorism: A Global View”; “Social Reform: the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Saudi Arabia”; “Women in Saudi Arabia”; “Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Presents His Brother Christ to Humanity”; “Saudi Political System: A Legal View”; “Saudi Arabia in the Eyes of a Diplomat’s Wife”; and “Hundred Questions about the Kingdom”.
Crown Prince Sultan recently donated SR5.6 million to the project that aims at removing stereotypes among Westerners about sensitive religious issues like the wearing of the hijab. There have been strident campaigns against Islam and Saudi Arabia following the 9/11 attacks.
“We have a team of 73 researchers working on the project, coming from all over the world. We will definitely be able to make a big impact on Western public opinion,” said Al-Bishr.
He said the project was also aimed at presenting Saudi Arabia’s viewpoints on various contemporary issues and highlight its moderate foreign and domestic policies. “It will definitely give convincing answers in order to correct political and religious misunderstanding,” he said.
The issue of Women in Saudi Arabia needed special focus as the Western media gave a wrong impression about status of women in the Kingdom. Some have gone to the extent of saying that Islam is an obstacle for the progress of women in the Islamic world in general and Saudi Arabia in particular.
“In the backdrop of these smear campaigns, our book tries to clarify the true position of women in Saudi Arabia by presenting the views of Saudi women,” Al-Bishr said.
The project, he said, aims at promoting constructive dialogue with the West and clarify some obscure points. All the phases of the project will be completed by next summer, he pointed out.
