المملكة: Rashood for "today"Education is a civilizational bridge to confront hate speech and promote understanding

A faculty member at the College of Judicial Studies and Regulations at Umm Al-Qura University, A., confirmed that Dr. Noura Al-Rashoud, during her talk to "today"Education represents one of the most important strategic tools in building a culture of tolerance and promoting understanding between peoples, and it also constitutes a basic pillar in confronting hate speech in its various forms, including religious and cultural hatred.

She points out "Rationality" The international community has become more aware of the seriousness of this phenomenon, which was reflected in the resolutions issued by the United Nations General Assembly, most notably Resolution No. 76-254, which declared March 15 as an international day to combat Islamophobia, calling on countries and international organizations to take educational and cultural measures to enhance awareness of the dangers of religious hatred. The United Nations also adopted June 18 of each year as the World Day to Combat Hate Speech, emphasizing the importance of developing preventive and institutional mechanisms to address this phenomenon that threatens social peace and human coexistence.

It clarifies that the international legal framework for human rights supports this trend, as Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights, while Article 2 affirms the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of religion, origin, or culture. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966 also stresses in its twentieth article the necessity of prohibiting any call for national, racial or religious hatred if it constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

Al-Rashoud believes that education represents a long-term preventive means to address the root causes of Hate speech, as United Nations and UNESCO reports confirm that incorporating the values ​​of tolerance and cultural pluralism into educational curricula contributes to building more stable and open societies, and enhances the ability of individuals to deal with religious and cultural differences in positive ways. International experiences have also proven that interactive education and academic exchange between different cultures are among the most effective means of dismantling stereotypes and confronting hate speech.

She points out that in light of the growing manifestations of Islamophobia in some political and media contexts, it becomes necessary to develop global educational initiatives that contribute to enhancing the correct understanding of Islamic cultures, and support the values ​​of dialogue and coexistence among civilizations. In its 2022 resolution on combating Islamophobia, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed that confronting religious hatred requires international cooperation that includes education, media, and academic institutions.

On the other hand, Al-Rashoud points out that the Islamic world faces a number of challenges in the field of higher education, most notably the disparity in the quality of education between countries, weak coordination between universities, and limited joint academic programs, in addition to the impact of political and sectarian divisions that have contributed to weakening scientific and cultural integration among Islamic societies. Also some directed media discourses that exaggerate differences and fuel cultural conflicts increase the need for cross-border educational initiatives that enhance rapprochement between Islamic peoples.

In this context, Al-Rashoud proposes the idea of ​​benefiting from successful international experiences in enhancing academic cooperation, most notably the European “Erasmus” program, which is considered one of the most prominent models of academic exchange in the world. Since its inception, this program has contributed to strengthening the common European identity through the movement of millions of students and researchers between European universities, which helped enhance cultural understanding and scientific integration among the participating countries.

Based on this experience, it proposes launching the “Islamic Erasmus” initiative as an international academic program aimed at enhancing cultural understanding and Combating hate speech within and outside Islamic societies. The idea is based on establishing a joint educational network between universities in Islamic countries, which contributes to strengthening the Islamic civilizational identity based on the values ​​of tolerance, justice, and respect for cultural diversity.

It explains that the implementation of the program can be done through the establishment of a specialized administrative body that will supervise the design and implementation of the program, and review the educational curricula in the participating universities to ensure that they are free of any discriminatory content or hate speech, in accordance with international human rights standards. It is also possible to work on developing joint academic curricula that focus on the topics of civilizational dialogue, cultural diversity, and religious tolerance, in addition to highlighting the civilizational contributions of Islamic countries in the fields of science, culture, and humanity.

To ensure the success of the program, Al-Rashoud points out the importance of launching a unified electronic platform that facilitates participation procedures and provides comprehensive information about the participating universities and available programs, while at the same time working to address potential challenges by adopting a unified Islamic framework for academic qualifications similar to the European Qualifications Framework, which contributes to enhancing educational integration between countries. Islamic State.

It confirms that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has emerged in recent years as an important actor in supporting initiatives for dialogue between cultures and religions, and in developing institutional strategies to confront extremism and hatred and promote the values of moderation and tolerance. National policies, especially within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, have emphasized the importance of building a vibrant society based on the values ​​of moderation and cultural openness, which was reflected in a number of institutional initiatives and programs that aim to spread the culture of dialogue and enhance understanding among peoples.

Among the most prominent of these efforts is the establishment of a number of institutions and centers specialized in promoting intercultural dialogue and combating extremism, including the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Dialogue, the Etidal Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, and the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid. These institutions have contributed to consolidating the Kingdom’s presence in international efforts aimed at promoting peace and human coexistence.

Al-Rashoud believes that these institutional and intellectual efforts constitute an important basis for supporting educational initiatives aimed at promoting tolerance and combating extremism. Hate speech, including the proposed “Islamic Erasmus” project, which could contribute to building a joint academic space between Islamic universities that enhances cultural and scientific communication among young people.

She concludes her speech by emphasizing that confronting hate speech cannot be achieved by legal means alone, but rather requires long-term investment in education, culture, and civilizational dialogue, noting that when education is transformed into a bridge of communication between peoples, it becomes a civilizational force capable of promoting peace and building a future of more cooperation and understanding between nations.