Nurturing Extremism Conference Focuses on Sociology, National Security, Media, and Religious Discourse
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The BA hosted the second day of the Nurturing Extremism: A Reading of the Measures of Intellectual Confrontation Conference on Monday, 4 January 2016. The three day conference was held from 3 to 5 January 2016 at the BA premises.
The first session of the second day was titled “Sociological Studies on Extremism in the Arab World”. It discussed the different sociological approaches to the phenomenon of extremism in the Arab World; studies in law and political sciences managed to narrow down some of the causes of extremism, most prominent of which is the absence of democracy and social justice.
Another session was held to discuss terrorism and national security, and it focused on the rise of terrorist movements in the Arab world and their effect on the national security of several Arab countries leading to internal strife, such is the case in Syria, Iraq, and Libya.
A session titled “Media and Fighting Extremism” was also held to reflect on the role of different organizations in spreading and fostering terrorism. The media, educational systems, and religious discourse all contribute, in various degrees, to the rise and success of terrorist operations.
In this regard, a session titled “Criticizing Religious Discourse” was held to expose how verses from the Quran are misinterpreted and used accordingly to justify the actions committed by terrorist organizations. The misinterpretations are thus claimed to be the true caliber of faith, and whoever objects to these interpretations is deemed a non-believer.