(WASHINGTON, DC) - The four-day Conference of Terrorism between Intellectual Extremism and Extremist Ideology concluded yesterday in Madinah. The conference was organized by the Islamic University of Madinah in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior. It was held within the framework of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior opened the conference by renewing the call to fight the sources of terrorism saying, "If all people do not work to dry up the sources of terrorism, it will continue in its existence." Prince Nayef stressed that security forces are making intensive efforts to detect terrorist acts and prevent their occurrence.

The Under Secretary of Ministry of Islamic Affairs for Mosques, Call and Guidance Affairs, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Sudairi announced that the Ministry has completed a book containing speeches on the issues of intellectual security which will be distributed to Imams. Additionally, he stated that the Ministry has established a website to be used as a reference for Imams when they are preparing their Friday sermons. He also announced the creation of a five-year program for Imams to become qualified to serve at Mosques in the Kingdom.

As the conference drew to a close, attendees urged Muslim youth to adhere to Islam's moderation and its tolerance towards others and called on extremist groups "to refrain from involving Islam in their deviating media discourse, to stop perpetrating criminal acts, return to their senses and follow the path of groups that have declared repentance.”

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