No tolerance for extremism, says Saudi education minister

There is no tolerance in Saudi schools and universities for extremist thought, literature or teaching, Education Minister Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh said on Monday.

The minister said he would not permit educational institutions to be exploited for the promotion of extremist views, or policies that contradicted those of the state. Offenders would be dealt with firmly and without leniency, he told a virtual university forum. “We reiterate our stand that we will not allow our educational institutions to be used to promote deviant ideas,” Al-Asheikh said. “We stress firmness in dealing with deviant thought. Universities should play a major role in enforcing nationalism as well as

‘We reiterate our stand that we will not allow our educational institutions to be used to promote deviant ideas.’

enhancing loyalty to the country, and enhancing self-immunity of all their employees.”

He insisted that libraries in educational institutes, curriculum descriptions, postgraduate theses and research for publication should include no deviant thoughts, or references to books related to terrorist movements and groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and others.

The minister said the high level of community awareness in the Kingdom was evident from the response by both students and staff to the need to close universities because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“They proved their sense of responsibility through continuing to remotely give regular lectures and take exams,”

he said.