Zarqa, Nov. 8 (Petra) -- Panelists at a dialogue session held at the King Abdullah II Cultural Center in Zarqa on Sunday emphasized the importance of rejecting violence and extremism, while consolidating the values of tolerance, moderation, and respect for others, highlighting the pivotal role of families as well as educational, religious, and cultural institutions in safeguarding youth against radical ideas.
Organized by the Zarqa Culture Directorate in collaboration with cultural and social organizations, the symposium titled "Social Peace and the Rejection of Violence and Extremism" was moderated by President of the General Union of Voluntary Societies (GUVS) in Zarqa, Omar Al-Jarrah.
Senator Dhaifallah Al-Qallab stated during the session that Jordanian society is characterized by solidarity, mutual support, and unity around the Hashemite leadership, noting that Jordanians share common values and principles, chief among them national belonging and loyalty to the leadership.
He added that countering extremist ideology is a collective responsibility, achieved by educating youth and fortifying them against deviant thoughts that contradict Islam's core tenets of peace, tolerance, and respect for others.
For his part, MP Hayel Ayyash stressed the necessity of intensifying national efforts to confront takfiri discourse and extremism, warning against the negative use of social media platforms and their exploitation by advocates of extremist ideology to target young people and influence their minds.
Similarly, MP Walid Al-Masri underlined the importance of focusing on youth and promoting the values of citizenship, moderation, and balance through the integrated roles of the family, school, and mosque, noting that terrorism is fundamentally incompatible with the values, customs, and traditions of Jordanian society.
In turn, Director of Ruseifa Awqaf Directorate Mahmoud Al-Anbatawi highlighted the key role played by mosques, imams, and preachers in raising religious awareness and entrenching Islamic concepts rooted in moderation. He noted that protecting homeland security and fostering societal coexistence must take precedence over divisions exploited by purveyors of deviant thought to sow discord.
Al-Anbatawi referred to awareness and educational programs launched by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs for imams and preachers, emphasizing the importance of highlighting the core principles of the Amman Message launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II in 2004 which advocates moderation, tolerance, dialogue, acceptance of others, and the rejection of fanaticism and extremism.
Director of the Zarqa Culture Directorate Mohammad Al-Zoubi stated that the directorate targets youth in its programs and activities by organizing seminars and dialogue sessions that reinforce respect for others and reject violence and extremism, in line with the Ministry of Culture's strategic plan. He noted that culture, literature, and the arts contribute to developing youth awareness, protecting them from radical ideas, and strengthening their national belonging.
//Petra// AF
