Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Mohammed Al-Essa has emphasized the role of Muslims in general and the media and Islamic organizations in particular in presenting the true image of Islam and Muslims as well as in removing misgivings about Islam and confronting the ways of distorting its image. He also cautioned against some young men being lured into dangerous ideas that have nothing to do with Islam and Muslims.

The MWL chief made the remarks while addressing a session titled “Islamophobia: an intellectual crisis or media crisis” at the Saudi Media Forum, which began in Riyadh on Monday. He underscored the role of media in effectively confronting the phenomenon of Islamophobia, and its role in changing the stereotype image created by the hostile media under the guise of Islamophobia.

Al-Essa lauded the role of the Saudi Media Forum in dealing with various topics of importance in a professional and objective manner. “Islamophobia is a term that must be explored in all its details, starting with the causes, analysis and solutions, and comparing it with the controversies around it from all aspects,” he said while pointing out that the negative effects of this term have increased with the presence of extremist and terrorist organizations and falsely linking them with Islam in addition to the lack of positive dialogue of Muslims with others.

“This gap has multiplied the negative effects of Islamophobia,” he said. The MWL chief stressed the important and prominent role played by the media in confronting such challenges facing Islam and Muslims.