This document discusses symptoms and causes of intolerance that can lead to violence, and solutions that have been implemented or could be considered. It focuses on efforts taken by Saudi Arabia to counter terrorism and violent extremism through educational reforms, public awareness campaigns, rehabilitation programs for extremists, and interfaith dialog initiatives. It also discusses components that would be important for a prototypical counter-violent extremism campaign in the KSA context and internationally, including engaging respected religious scholars and leaders, understanding local cultures and sensitivities, and using a variety of communication tools and approaches.

1. John D. Elliott
Press Attaché
U.S. Consulate Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
December 2016

2. I.
Symptoms, Causes, Existing Solutions

3.  Intolerance
 Indignation
 Humiliation
 Resentment
 Demonizing “Them”
 Anger
 Violence
 Offensive Military Actions
 Suffering, Injury, Death
 Genocide

4.  Collective Psychological Processes*
 Societal Alienation
 Resentment against Entity or History
 Religious Misinterpretations
 Religious Mistruths/Disinformation/Incorrect
Transliterations
 Lack of Guidance for Youth
 Mass/Targeted Assault from Internet Sources, Non-
Vigilance in Youth Use
 Apocalyptic Images
 Fighting for the “Underdog”
 Racism
 Popular Media (Games, Movies, Videos)
 Numbing of Society to Violence and Violations
* “Collective Psychological Processes in Anti-Semitism” (Jewish Political Studies Review, 2006),
http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-falk-s06.htm

5.  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
– Institute New Financial Controls and Banking
Regulations to Counter Terrorism Support
(2003)
– Hosted 50-Nation Counter-Terrorism
International Conference, Riyadh (2005)
– Global Interfaith Dialog Initiative (2008)
– Hosted Counterterrorism Workshop (2010)
– Signed agreement with UN to create Centre for
Counter Terrorism [UNCCT] (2011)
Sources: http://www.mepc.org/journal/middle-east-policy-
archives/combating-extremism-brief-overview-saudi-arabias-approach
https://saudiembassy.net/files/PDF/Reports/Counterterrorism.pdf

6.  KSA:
– Donated $10M to UNCCT (2012)
– Donated $100M to UNCCT (2014)
– Military operations to confront Da’esh (2014-
Present)
– Islamic University (Madinah) and MOI hold
International Conference on Terrorism:
“Intellectual Extremism and Extremist Ideology”
(2010)

7.  KSA:
– Public and Religious Education
• Modernize Textbooks, Curricula
• Provide Better Training for Educators
– Imams Now Prohibited from
Incitement/Intolerant Talk
• MIA Conducting Imam Education Programs

8.  KSA:
– Global Interfaith Dialog Initiative (2008)
• King Abdullah Launched
• Goal to Underscore Commonalities Among World’s
Religions
• 500 Muslim Scholars Worldwide
– World Conference on Dialog (Spain, 2008)
• Co-hosted by King Juan Carlos I and King Abdullah
• 300 Delegates from 7 Major Religions

9.  KSA:
– Direct Outreach to Saudi Society
– Reëducation Efforts:
• “War of Ideas” to instill concepts of moderation and
Tolerance, undermine justifications for extremism on
an INTELLECTUAL level
– Public Awareness Campaign:
• To Reinforce “true values” of Islam
• Educate Saudis on dangers of extremism
• Ads on TV, Radio, Public Display
• Programs in Masjid, Mosques, Sporting Events

10.  KSA:
– Preventative Programs of MOI:
• “Counter-Radicalization”
• “Rehabilitation”
• Work on the Causes/Sources of Extremism
• Programs Involved International Social Scientists,
Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Other Experts
– Public Security Training (King Fahd Security
College and Naif Arab University for Security
Sciences)

11.  KSA:
– Preventative Programs of MOI:
• “Counter-Radicalization”
“…to combat the spread and appeal of extremist
ideologies among the general populous”
Strives to instill true values of Islamic faith, such as
tolerance and moderation.
Education about the dangers of radical Islam—
consisting of school and religious programs and
popular pronouncements
Provision of positive, alternative outlets for at-risk
groups—such as encouraging participation in sporting
events, athletic programs, social outings, etc.”

12.  KSA:
– Preventative Programs of MOI:
• “Rehabilitation”
intended to reintegrate deviants/extremists back
into society, change their behavior (disengage them)
and change their beliefs (de-radicalize them).
Designed to target deviants who have completed
prison sentences.
Reëducates violent extremists and extremist
sympathizers through intensive religious debates
and psychological counseling.
Goal is for extremists to renounce ideologies that
espouse terrorism.
Similar to U.S. Military’s “Task Force 134” in Iraq

13.  1st Forum for Peace in Muslim Societies
(2014)
– Sheikh Abdallah ben Bayyah
– Correcting Notions on Jihad
– Adherence to the Law of the Land
– Islam’s Contribution to World Peace
– Follow-up included delegations travelling to other
countries, engagement with governments, NGOs,
religious actors
 2nd Forum for Peace in Muslim Societies
(2015)
– Presentations noted some non-religious factors in
radicalism process:
• Social
• Economic

14.  National Project to Spread Intellectual
Integrity Throughout 33 Thousand
Schools
– Director General of the Ministry of Islamic
Awareness Nabil Budair
()

15.  Muslim World League:
– 4th International Interfaith Conference (2009)
• Dr. Bandar Al-Eiban, President of the KSA Human
Rights Commission emphasized importance of
focusing on values shared by all religions:
“The focus on differences by followers
of different faiths and cultures
has led to fanaticism and destructive wars.”

16.  Religious Scholars of the Senior Council of
Ulema:
– Anti-terrorist ideology strategy

17.  Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al-Saud, Governor
of the Al-Qassim region :
– Calls for Use of Education to Fight Against
Terrorism
– Highlighted the importance of using the
educational system to fight terrorism and
extremist ideologies.
– stated that the best way to prevent youth from
joining terrorist groups is to provide them with
the intellectual knowledge to fight against
extremist ideology.
( Albilad)

18.  Grand Mufti of the Kingdom Sheikh
Abdulaziz al-Sheikh:
– Denied that educational institutions and
curriculum were behind ideologies that
motivated terrorists
– “Terrorists foster these ideologies from where
they lived and grew up.”
– Stressed that terrorists learned the ideologies
of killing and blood shed from environment
away from school.
(Al-Watan)

19. II.
Best Practices: Components of
A Prototypical KSA Campaign

20. Mission KSA-Specific CVE
Campaign:

21. A Successful CVE Campaign:
• Attending Summits and Meetings in
Observer Status
• Arabic Language as an “Ambassador”
• Strengthening Bridges and Avoiding
“Turn-offs”
• Participation in Festivals, Cultural Events

22. Mission KSA-Specific CVE
Campaign:
• Exposing Myths and Realities
• Victim Stories
• Muslim Scholar Statements
• Anti-Violence Fatwas

23. Mission KSA-Specific CVE
Campaign:
• Understanding Jihad
• Promoting “The Moderate Qur’an”
• Knowing the Basics of Islam
• Discussions with Muslims and Imams
• Learning about Islamic Justice

24. Mission KSA-Specific CVE
Campaign:
• Social Media and Today’s
Communications Tools
• QualityVideoProduction
• UnderstandingViralAttributes
• Cartoonsand“Home-Made”Videos

25. Mission KSA-Specific CVE
Campaign:

26.  Sheikh Abdallah ben Bayyah and Cheikhna
ben Bayyah
 Dr. Abdullah Basfar, Sec. Gen of Holy Qur’an
Memorization International Safi Kaskas,
Author of Contemporary Qur’an
 Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, President of the
Muslim World Congress (possible)
 Abdallah Ben Abdel Mohsen Al-Turki, Gen.
Sec. of Muslim World League (possible)
 Dr. Ahmed Khaled Bakr, Gen. Sec. of Jeddah
Fiqh Academy (possible)

27.  Importance of Religious Actors in CVE:
“If you want to teach people peace, you have to
teach them within the context of their religious and
cultural traditions. Because if you attempt to do this
through the imposition of concepts that are alien to
the, it won’t seep in”
– Shaikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, USIP, Washington D.C. (9/14)

28.  Benefits:
– (As in all PD Efforts) Making Meaningful
Contact
– FSO Shows Deference/Respect for Culture
– Visit Different Mosques and Know the
Neighborhoods
– Discovering Candidates for IVLP
– Values for Social Media Appearances
 Challenges:
– “Are you a spy?”
– Proselytizing may Occur
– RSO Concerns and Preparation

29. III.
Best Practices: Components of
A Prototypical International Campaign

30.  Proactive Approach
 Good Communications Products to All
Parties
 Multi-faceted Solutions Tool Kit (Magic
Bullets Not Realistic)
 Must Contain Religious, Cultural, and
National Sensitivities