JEDDAH: A doctoral researcher specializing in the Saudi legal system said there is an urgent need to establish a national body for intellectual security.

“This body would spread awareness on the damages and hazards resulting from deviant thoughts of terrorist organizations,” said Bader Al-Shouwair. “It should provide means of prevention and protection for the public at large in addition to immunizing the community against falling victim to such deviant thoughts.”

Al-Shouwair came up with the proposal for such a body following current events affecting the security of the country, noticing that the large proportion of those who carry out terrorist operations are around 19 years old. Al-Shouwair raised this alarm while speaking to a local publication on this subject, quoting the latest statistics which clearly indicate that youths comprise the largest sector of the Kingdom’s population.

He emphasized that intellectual security will help in establishing and entrenching young minds free of deviant thoughts and beliefs which might in future generations threaten and endanger the security of the Kingdom. At the same time such a body would achieve security and stability among members of society.

Although he said that establishing entities for intellectual security is not enough, he emphasized that the establishment such bodies and departments are nevertheless important since the Kingdom lacks such bodies.

“There is a department for intellectual security at the Ministry of Interior doing great things; another department exists in the Ministry of Islamic Affairs with the task of raising scientific and intellectual awareness; and two months ago the Ministry of Education decided to establish a department for intellectual security in addition to the many research chairs on the issue at universities,” he said. “But these various departments are badly in need of a supervisory body to unify and concentrate all efforts because security on all its levels — political, social, economic and intellectual — is the main pillar of life.”