Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
Why should a young man, who received quality education at the best institutions abroad, received the highest degrees, does not face financial hardships, and whose country is not torn by either political conflict or war, select the path of terrorism and head to Iraq, Syria or Lebanon?
Young men go to these countries to kill people, intimidate them, blow up things, behead people, and snap photos and shoot videos of these horrible scenes for the world.
They use their talent in editing and directing such videos and publish them on social networking sites for the world to see.
The recently disclosed story of a doctor from the Gulf is heart-breaking. After getting his degree, he decided to leave the profession to join the Islamic State militant group, which has overrun vast territories in Iraq and Syria.
He then brought his life to an abrupt end by blowing himself up in a suicide operation, which was filmed.
Stories like this abound. They are all about youths from the Gulf —men and women — who leave their countries and then infiltrate into Iraq, Syria, Lebanon or Yemen only to be part of suicide operations like this one.
Should we blame religious edicts that denigrate the faith of people for this rising tide? Should we blame violence-soaked sermons and religious and doctrinal incitement on Internet sites and some ideological and doctrinal satellite TV channels for this?
But why do these subversive ideas succeed and find their way to the hearts and minds of youths? Why should these youths believe these ideas with certainty, even as these lead to death and destruction?
Why are not moderate Islamic ideas and religious, humanity-based civilised sermons, and concepts like justice, mercy and piety able to find ground?
First, we have to admit that those who are joining the IS do not come from another planet. They are not the fruit of a devilish plant that suddenly sprouted in this world. They are, in fact, our children. They were raised in our societies and went to the same schools we graduated from.
These youths went to the same mosques we went to and listened to the same sermons. This means that we should not absolve ourselves of the blame.
A report published by the Independent on Sunday invited my attention. It said that the IS uses in its schools the same textbooks that are being taught in Gulf schools.
This means that the terrorism of this organisation owes its roots in our schools, school curriculum, societies, sermons and our religious, social and political sources.
Why should a young man, who received quality education at the best institutions abroad, received the highest degrees, does not face financial hardships, and whose country is not torn by either political conflict or war, select the path of terrorism and head to Iraq, Syria or Lebanon?
Young men go to these countries to kill people, intimidate them, blow up things, behead people, and snap photos and shoot videos of these horrible scenes for the world.
They use their talent in editing and directing such videos and publish them on social networking sites for the world to see.
The recently disclosed story of a doctor from the Gulf is heart-breaking. After getting his degree, he decided to leave the profession to join the Islamic State militant group, which has overrun vast territories in Iraq and Syria.
He then brought his life to an abrupt end by blowing himself up in a suicide operation, which was filmed.
Stories like this abound. They are all about youths from the Gulf —men and women — who leave their countries and then infiltrate into Iraq, Syria, Lebanon or Yemen only to be part of suicide operations like this one.
Should we blame religious edicts that denigrate the faith of people for this rising tide? Should we blame violence-soaked sermons and religious and doctrinal incitement on Internet sites and some ideological and doctrinal satellite TV channels for this?
But why do these subversive ideas succeed and find their way to the hearts and minds of youths? Why should these youths believe these ideas with certainty, even as these lead to death and destruction?
Why are not moderate Islamic ideas and religious, humanity-based civilised sermons, and concepts like justice, mercy and piety able to find ground?
First, we have to admit that those who are joining the IS do not come from another planet. They are not the fruit of a devilish plant that suddenly sprouted in this world. They are, in fact, our children. They were raised in our societies and went to the same schools we graduated from.
These youths went to the same mosques we went to and listened to the same sermons. This means that we should not absolve ourselves of the blame.
A report published by the Independent on Sunday invited my attention. It said that the IS uses in its schools the same textbooks that are being taught in Gulf schools.
This means that the terrorism of this organisation owes its roots in our schools, school curriculum, societies, sermons and our religious, social and political sources.
