There is an enlightening initiative underway in the Middle East, particularly in Islamic countries, that deserves to be highlighted and showcased as a civilizational model serving humanity in all its diversity. This initiative is skillfully led by the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa.
The initiative is fundamentally based on combating extremist religious ideology, from which most hate speech and cross-border terrorism have sprung.
Anyone analyzing the terrorist operations that have struck many countries around the world will quickly discover that the terrorists’ distorted understanding of religion is their primary motivation for committing crimes that now threaten all of humanity. From this perspective, the value of the role led by Dr. Al-Issa becomes clear: correcting this ideology and rectifying the distorted stereotypes about religion in Islamic countries, which lead to the involvement of young Muslims in extremist activities.
In this context, the Saudi city of Jeddah, the pearl on the Red Sea coast, witnessed a celebration; The Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) recently launched the “Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought” document, initiated in March 2024 by Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa. This initiative was officially endorsed by the Islamic world and under the direct patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The significance of UNA’s celebration of this document at this crucial juncture lies in its message of media consensus on the necessity of combating the ideologies of extremist groups active in various parts of the world. It also underscores the importance of cooperation in confronting attempts to hijack religious discourse and transform it from a discourse that promotes tolerance and peace into one that incites hatred and terrorism. This approach is championed by the Saudi state and practically adopted by the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, who has successfully established a new form of religious diplomacy based on moderation and combating extremist ideologies that undermine the stability of nations and jeopardize societal security.
This celebration, attended by senior officials from news agencies of Islamic countries, along with news agencies from friendly nations and international media figures, affirmed that responsible media can effectively contribute to unifying perspectives on shared issues and confronting the discourse of extremism in general, and sectarianism in particular, with a comprehensive and insightful message.
All participants at this important enlightening gathering emphasized the profound significance of the “Document on Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought” and its importance in formulating a sound Islamic media vision that unifies the discourse on this serious issue.
The document addresses this issue, representing a valuable asset conveyed through reliable media narratives with agreed-upon content. It transcends mere debate, aiming instead to build bridges between Islamic schools of thought and foster positive relations with others, enabling them to actively and effectively work together to promote the values of tolerance, peace, and moderation in a world beset by intellectual and social turmoil.
