Over the past few days we have been bombarded with comments and analyses — all focusing on the discovery of a major terrorist plot in Riyadh. There have been unanimous condemnations of terrorism and calls for rooting it out in order to protect society from its evils. All have agreed that those involved were misguided, brainwashed and under the influence of foreign individuals and organizations. There were calls on both scholars and the ulema as well as the media to enlighten and caution the public on the devastating effects such activities could have.
All this is very fine talk indeed. What has been said is correct and sensible and the word “terrorism” is most frightening to all who hear it, let alone those who have been its victims. All this talk is of course about a well-known and well-publicized disease, a disease that needs a cure rather than a diagnosis. Treatment begins with a correct diagnosis and it is only after the cause and nature have been determined that treatment can be effective.
We need to know how those who were involved had been misguided and brainwashed, what methods were used to influence them and above all, why did they become easy victims and blindly followed those who targeted and led them? These and many other questions should be addressed publicly in order to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.
Convictions cannot be changed by force or through admonitions and general talk that does no more than scratch the surface. The causes must first be identified and then discussed in depth. This is necessary not only for those terrorists who are already wanted but also for others who might be planning to do something. The public deserves to be enlightened and educated by providing them with truth.
There were 15 Saudis involved in the Sept. 11 attacks, more than 100 are detained in Guantanamo, more than 200 are in Saudi prisons and another 17 more involved in last week’s terrorist plot now joins the list. They are all our children and our brothers. It is not enough simply to disavow them and say they have been misled nor is it enough simply to threaten punishment because this can only lead to more violence. Convictions are only changed through dialogue — open and frank discussion that digs deep into the causes and motives, identifies the illness and then prescribes the medicine. We need to do it now before it is too late.
Arab News From the Local Press 11 May 2003
