Responding to a parliamentary question submitted by MP Ali Ahmed in this regard, Shaikh Khalid said that the Ministry’s strategy to spread the culture of moderation is based on the following steps which include lessons and public lectures; guidance programmes in the education; awareness and rehabilitation programmes for inmates of reform and rehabilitation institutions; guidance programmes for inmates of juvenile institutions; awareness programmes for parental care houses; religious studies conducted in the concerned institutes and hawzas and educational programmes conducted by the Ministry’s generations’ care centres.
The Minister also said that the Ministry’s has organised conferences on modern Islamic rhetoric and included orators and preachers in training sessions inside and outside the kingdom, in line with strategy to develop and modernise Islamic discourse among Imams and preachers.
He added that the Ministry held special workshop for orators and preachers for the sake of upgrading the scientific and practical content of religious discourse and enabling them to keep abreast of the latest developments, including the need to adhere to moderation and denounce extremism and sectarianism.
The Minister said that Ministerial Edict 7 for 2011 allocated allowances for orators and preachers, according to the rate of their attendance, in order to encourage them to participate in the workshops and conferences.
Shaikh Khalid also pointed out that the Ministry has set standards for orators and Imams and urged them to respect them, adding that 11 orators have been advised, 25 orally and in writing and some were suspended because of their repeated violations.
Regarding the discourse of political associations, Shaikh Khalid said that they are governed by Law 26 for 2005 and the principles endorsed by HM the King’s Reform Project paving the way for the establishment of such associations that should carry out their activities within a democratic framework, overtly, peacefully and in accordance with the National Action Charter and the Constitution.
The Minister said that the Ministry has filed legal suits against a number of political associations that violated the law and the constitutions through inciting violence and sectarianism.
He also asserted that the government has finalized amending the Political Associations Law and will refer it to the Legislative Branch, adding that the amendments aim to ensure that those associations perform their duties in accordance with the interests of the nation and the citizens.
He also said that the Justice Ministry set up a special body concerned with the affairs of political associations and will be in charge of monitoring their publications and discourse in order to make sure that they are free of sectarianism and incitement.