JEDDAH, 7 January 2003 — Prominent businessman Saleh Kamel, chairman of Dallah Albaraka, said yesterday that his investment group has plans to launch four major media projects to present the true picture of Islam and Muslims to the outside world.
Speaking to reporters after a ceremony organized at King Abdul Aziz University here to award him an honorary doctorate from Lakehurst University, Kamel said his group will launch an international news agency which will supply news and photos to media organs worldwide, a radio station broadcasting in English, a television channel in all major world languages and a public relations company in the United States.
The US university decided to award an honorary doctorate to the Saudi tycoon in recognition of his contributions to mass media.
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed attended the ceremony. Lakehurst President Professor Cliff Hesse delivered the opening speech.
In his acceptance speech, Kamel underscored the importance of mass media as the bridge of globalization and the most articulate and explicit means of interaction in the present world.
Kamel pointed out that the scope of cultural dialogue has become broader and more extensive now than ever.
He described the compensation suits filed in the United States on behalf of the relatives of the victims of 9/11 as unscrupulous attempts by some US attorneys to extort money from innocent people.
