(MEES Translation)

The following is a MEES translation of the text of the final communiqu� and recommendations of the Second National Intellectual Dialogue meeting in Makkah which was published on the Elaph website on 4 January.

In pursuance of Shari'a principles based on safeguarding people�s interest and concern with the public good, carrying out the responsibility borne by the country�s clergy and intellectuals, and taking up from the First National Intellectual Dialogue which was followed by a Royal Decree to establish the King ΄Abd al-΄Aziz Center for National Dialogue, the Second National Intellectual Dialogue meeting was held in Makkah on 4-8 Dhu al-Qa΄da 1424 H, corresponding to 27-31 December 2003 AD. The purpose was to establish the idea of dialogue as a part of the way of life and the main means to get to know the realities and trends of public opinion in order to present them to the authorities responsible for introducing reforms.

A group of clergy, intellectuals and academics � men and women � representing a range of intellectual outlooks, took part in the meeting. The subject was �Excess and Moderation: A Thorough Review.� The subject was carefully chosen, bearing in mind the danger of excess and the great harm it causes to the country and its people � and to the world as a whole � and taking into account the context of the age we live in which is witnessing all kinds of excess.

The working papers on the subject of the meeting were written in advance by experts specializing in legal, social, psychological, educational, political, economic and media affairs in order to obtain a clear and balanced study of it. The purpose was to bring about effective and commendable ways to remove extremism and excess from this country, all the while preserving national unity and the consolidation of society at a time when it is being buffeted by uncompromising groups that are distorting the teaching of religion and contradicting its true aims.

The purpose of the meeting was to study the problem and the reasons for it, as well as to analyze its various facets with a view to formulating suggestions to help confront the symptoms of excess. Sixty men and women � clergy, academics and leading opinion-formers in society � took part in the meeting, along with 15 specialist researchers. They tackled the subject of excess and moderation in 14 working sessions, with much attention given to free and open discussion, dealing with the following aspects:

1. The legal aspect. Including study of the concepts and phenomena of excess, through the Quran and the Sunna, and discussing the concept of excess from an overall juristic point of view, as well as the current phenomenon of denouncing others as non-believers, and criticizing them for the level of their social commitment and loyalty to religious practices, as well as the issue of dealing with non-Muslims, and how puritanical one is and others should be � in addition to the relationship between rulers and the ruled, citizens� rights and obligations.

2. The psychological and social aspect. Including subjects such as: characteristics of an extremist personality, and the effects of education and social upbringing on the local environment, plus a social examination of religious education in Saudi society.

3. The education aspect. The effect of religious curricula and the role of the teacher and the social milieu in achieving moderation, the role of education in bringing about sound ways of thinking and creating a balanced personality, in addition to the discussion of dubious educational activity and its impact on the achievement of excess or moderation.

4. The political and economic aspect. The importance of popular participation, intellectually and practically, in dealing with excess in society and its relationship with freedom and human rights, and the extent of engagement with the affairs of Muslims in the world at large. Also, a study of the economic factor and its influence on excess, plus its relationship with other phenomena such as: poverty, unemployment, general financial management, economic growth and balanced development.

5. The media aspect. The media coverage of the phenomenon of excess, stressing the importance of freedom of expression in the various forms of the media, and the effect of this on dealing with excess. Plus media coverage of religious sermons and its role in confronting excess and achieving moderation.

The participants ended their discussions with a commitment to Saudi national unity, based on Islam as the source of theology and law.

Referring to the acts of terrorism that the world � including Saudi Arabia � has witnessed, the participants reiterated their rejection of it and called for more solidarity in dealing with it, especially given the bloody bomb attacks that the world and our country has experienced, resulting in the killing of innocent people, the defiling of sacred places, the terrorizing of believers and the destruction of property.

After lengthy study, the participants made the following recommendations:

1. A call on religious academic institutions to agree on definitions for terms related to excess, such as: terrorism, Jama΄at al-Muslimin, Dar al-Harb, Dar al-Kufr, Dar al-Islam, al-Taifa al-Mansura etc.

2. A call for a comprehensive scientific study of the phenomenon of excess in Saudi society: its causes,  forms and impact, in order to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with it.

3. The speeding up of the political reform process, widening public participation through: elections to choose members of the Shura Council and regional councils, encouraging the formation of trade unions and voluntary societies, and civil society institutions.

4. Developing lines of communication between rulers and the ruled, and making a clear distinction between the three branches of government: administrative, judicial and executive.

5. Stressing the control of economic affairs when it comes to public funds, making expenditure on basic resources for citizens the priority according to a balanced and comprehensive development program, and stressing the need to lower the public debt by means of stringent measures, achieving the principle of transparency and accountability in the process.

6. A call to modernize the religious message to conform with contemporary developments, with a careful understanding of conditions in the world at large, dealing with them in an open and interactive way.

7. Stressing the rejection of individual fatwas on public issues affecting the interests of the state and its future, such as war and peace, and assigning this responsibility to those qualified on the subject, as well as upgrading the performance and instruments involved in issuing fatwas.

8. Establishing the concept of dialogue in Saudi society, and teaching new generations in schools and universities about this by opening the doors of responsible free speech that safeguards public interests.

9. Developing educational programs in various specializations at the feet of competent experts, in subjects including the spreading of the spirit of tolerance and moderation, and the development of cognitive skills, to play a part in achieving comprehensive development, keeping the process under periodic review.

10. Supporting healthy youth programs, setting up mechanisms for them, and establishing youth centers � for boys and for girls � in residential neighborhoods, drawing up programs focused on the need for young people to develop a spirit of innovation, under supervision according to defined principles.

11. Observing negative phenomena in society and making future plans to deal with them, by means of cooperation between universities and scientific research institutions.

12. Strengthening the role of women in all aspects of life, and calling for the setting up of specialist national authorities concerning themselves with the affairs of children, women and the family.

13. Opening the door to anyone wanting to give up violence or evil and repent; and rather than casting him out and dealing harshly with him, helping him to reintegrate into society.

14. Guaranteeing a fair trial for those accused of acts of violence and terrorism, allowing them a choice of lawyers and freedom to meet them whenever they wish.

15. Putting in place a comprehensive strategy to help to pull young people in the right direction and remove them from excess and extremism, giving them opportunities for work, training and qualifications, and widening the grounds for their acceptance in various educational institutions.

16. Stressing the need for balance in media coverage of matters relating to religion and the state, putting in place a system for this in a way that avoids anything that creates division, and takes into account intellectual and religious sectarian diversity.

17. Paying attention to the media message of the kingdom abroad and developing it to confront contemporary challenges, and calling for the setting up of a specialist unit at the King ΄Abd al-΄Aziz Center for National Dialogue for the dialogue of civilizations and cultures, and studies related to them.

18. The participants recommended that the subject of the third meeting should be one of the following:

• The Relationship Between Ruler And The Ruled.

• The Rights And Duties Of Women.

• Popular Political Participation.

• Education.

In conclusion, the participants directed their thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd ibn ΄Abd al-΄Aziz, and his Crown Prince ΄Abd Allah ibn ΄Abd al-΄Aziz, and the Second Deputy Prince Sultan ibn ΄Abd al-΄Aziz for the facilities provided for the participants during this meeting.