Saudi Arabia’s education minister has ordered the removal of two extremist books from school libraries, in order to protect youth from extremist ideas.
One of the books is by Muslim Brotherhood thinker Sayyid Qutb, and the other is on jihad.
Source: Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, November 25, 2008
If it’s true, it’s certainly a commendable move. But hey, just because the minister ordered it, doesn’t mean his orders will be implemented.
Anyways, I’m guessing it has something to do with those books producing people who not only fly planes into buildings, but also want to blow up Saudi oil facilities and pipelines.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s two books out of hundreds.
Sigh. I was hoping it was the textbooks.
WOW!
What are we suppos to think of this? A new era for muslim moderation or a fake new image of Saudi enlightenment.
These poeple are good at being hypocrites. They can institute all the bans they want. They will will remain backwards and racists to the core.
Redouane,
“They can institute all the bans they want. They will will remain backwards and racists to the core.”
A little optimism please.
No matter what the content of the book is, it’s unacceptable to ban a book from a library. That’s an attack on freedom of expression. There are no good and bad books. Shame
Nadir, it is very much acceptable to regulate the content of a school library. Some books are very much unsuitable for young and impressionable readers, be they books that advocate violence and hatred, pornography, or anything else that is only suitable for adults.
Of course, I personally don’t find adults to be that much less impressionable, but still.
Sayyid Qutb, huh ? Pretty much sums up as “Arabs are lacking because they’re not Muslim enough. Once they become strict enough Muslims, Allah (swt) will grant them victory over the rest of the world”
What if that premise turns out to be utter nonsense ? Then Islam would be just another conviction like every other. And we could all live and let live.
I think one big reason is that Sayyid Qutb’s political ideas is very much against the Saudi style og government itself.
But i think that Nadir sums up a very important point, although Roman is correct in his correction - there is a difference between a library and a school library. That being said, i cannot grasp how one can believe in freedom of expression and on the same time advocating a ban of Sayyid Qutb’s ideas. The man was a fanatic and have islamic thoughts that are considered a heretical by many, but he’s not a terrorist.
“Sayyid Qutb, huh ? Pretty much sums up as “Arabs are lacking because they’re not Muslim enough. Once they become strict enough Muslims, Allah (swt) will grant them victory over the rest of the world”
What if that premise turns out to be utter nonsense ? Then Islam would be just another conviction like every other. And we could all live and let live.”
- Make that “muslims” instead of “arabs”, although his main area of focus was his native arab world.
But the same can be said about any other ideology - or change - who have yet to be implemented.
Optimism? There is no optimism from this side of the line. Sorry Drima. Maybe when I hear them banning the protocols of the elder of Zion.
This is a PR thing only, and you should know it. Why ban it from public libraries but keep it being bought and sold at bookstores.
I keep reading the same tautological claims and go in circles for ever. Like “they banned qutb because his ideas are dangerous”, Yes he is dangerous, that’s why they banned. Did we ever thought that his ideas are nice and rosy and speak of coexistence between the faiths. Come on!!! It is like saying Liz is a terrorist because she tries to blow herself up. DEHH!!
Saudis are learning to pratice their “Taqiya” with a new PR twist, in a world super mediatized by glibs and misinformation, their Taqiya’s may even reached its goal.
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