I have long argued that radical Islam has a strong foundation in core Islamic sources. It is not the only version of Islam, but it is so firmly rooted within Islamic tradition that it will be much more difficult to root out than most people think. A new example of this comes from Saudi Arabia. According to Al-Jazeera: “Some 150 Saudis, including judges and university professors have signed a document warning the kingdom against changing its Islam-based school curricula.
“The warning, which was obtained by Reuters on Saturday, was signed on 1 January, a day after Saudi intellectuals, clerics and prominent personalities recommended educational reforms at the end of a conference held to address ‘militancy’. . . . In October, Education Ministry officials began removing references they saw as encouraging ‘militancy’. Saudi Arabia, along with five other Gulf countries, also agreed last month to amend its school books.
“The warning criticised the proposed changes in the curriculum as American pressure that was aimed at ‘taking the kingdom along the path of infidels’.
“‘Any omissions or mutilation of what was written by the Islamic scholars… contradicts the national unity the state is calling for, as this unity is based on our religious creed,’ the statement said.”
The Islamic scholars in question, of course, as I explain in Onward Muslim Soldiers, teach violent jihad.
“Reformists in the conservative kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, criticised the warning. ‘This is an attempt by hardliners who benefit from the status quo to keep their influence,’ said one, who declined to be named.” (Thanks to Nicolei.)