Citizens have raised concerns about the distortion of Islam by terrorists and stressed the importance of addressing persons who practice Islamic rituals which are misconstrued and commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam.

They emphasized that Islamic scholars should take the lead in making people aware of true Islam and highlight the danger of militancy and extremism.

Abdullah Al-Zahrani, an imam of a mosque here, said that most terrorist groups aim at spreading chaos through biased views. He observed that preachers and imams should guide them to the right path.

“If parents bring up their children well, they would reap the fruits of their labor and benefit the community,” Al-Zahrani said.

Jamal Abu Thahab said some meetings exploit vulnerable minds and said that true Islam denounces destructive behavior.

Ahmed Al-Anani, a teacher, said that Saudis who sympathize with extremist groups need vigorous and intense religious sessions to help them identify the right doctrine which condemns such behavior.

Speaking of the Kingdom’s security for its citizens, Khaled Al-Kenani, a school principal, said that the Kingdom will always have a strong security system to provide protection to its people and counter extremist criminal elements. “The Interior Ministry and its multiple sectors are characterized by a high level of competence, training and combat capabilities, with modern techniques and armament to safeguard citizens,” he added.