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"Terrorist Rehab" Explores 'Thought Security' In Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Political Drama
Political Bytes Expands to PR & Strategy
The Ticket to Saudi Railways
Charisma of Riyadh and Political Bytes Productions of LA have been awarded the film work to document the building of one of the world's most ambitious railway projects ever undertaken- to link East and West- North and South - across the desert Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"Terrorist Rehab" Explores 'Thought Security' in Saudi Arabia
By Kieran Baker | PBS - NOW
I've been in Riyadh all week attending Saudi's first conference on 'thought security'. The meeting began with a 'made-for'-Saudi TV event, a mixture of rapture and sobriety, where survivors and policemen were honored for their role in their fight against violent extremism here in the Kingdom.When they say 'thought security', what they really mean is the 'influence of deviant ideas', something that began perhaps over a decade ago, but only came to prominence (or was officially recognized here) in 2003 when the attacks by al Qaeda on Western compounds rocked Riyadh.
Up till then Saudis held sympathies for the al Qaeda struggle, seeing it more in terms of Islamic brotherhood or solidarity than 'real' terrorism, but the events of 2003 - 2006 dramatically altered that thinking and brought them, head to head against al Qaeda. With this conference comes an intellectual examination of that struggle and a look at how best to defeat 'deviant thoughts' or extremism in the future.
Whenever academics get involved it is a sure sign that most of the hard 'practical' work -- in this case: the Saudi police confronting and defeating the terrorist ideologues -- has taken place and now it's time to write about it. Perhaps it's little known that Saudi has had it's own ongoing 'war on terror' over the last 6 years and that they have countered it by starting a rehabilitation program that doesn't spend all day water boarding their inmates- but actually counsels and cares for them.
It's been so successful that the Saudi 'soft policing' tactics are now copied in as diverse places as Malaysia, Yeman and even Iraq. While there have been violent exchanges here between police and al Qaeda -- resulting in deaths on both sides, the battle now is to prevent future jihadi ideology and thinking- hence this conference on 'thought security'.Over 50 papers are being presented and pored over by academics, clerics, and sociologists to get a better sense of why, particularly youngsters, are still 'harboring deviant thoughts'. The conference was opened by one of Saudis most powerful ministers.
Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, who remarked: "The Kingdom has been at the forefront of nations warning against immoderation and extremism... and has been affected by a breach in the fabric of it's intellectual security by some of its sons who fell under the influence of deviant thought'.
A veiled reference to terrorists of course and in the West we quickly point to the 15 Saudi sons who flew into the Twin Towers and ask why wasn't anything being done here 10 years ago? However, sat in Riyadh now, observing the complexities of this Kingdom, you have to acknowledge that it's better to admit mistakes, and try to correct them, than not address them at all.
Quietly that's what this conference symbolizes to an outsider, that under King Abdullah, there is an ongoing recognition here, that change, particularly amongst the youth, needs to happen, so that there isn't another 'generation jihad' around the corner. These academics have an important task ahead to point this emerging and youthful society away from interpretations of Islamic extremism, and help secure some of those 'deviant' thoughts along the way.
Kieran Baker is a TV Producer who has spent a year and half researching extremism inside the Kingdom. See more on "Terrorist Rehab" here.
Saudi Arabia's Political Drama
One month into its battle against Yemen's Houthi fighters, Saudi Arabia is vowing to rid the country of infiltrators. For Saudis, the Houthi incursion into their territory is emblematic of a much bigger and potentially more dangerous problem.
If Houthi fighters can cross into their territory so too can al-Qaeda operatives now based in Yemen. On Thursday, we look at the multiple political and strategic challenges facing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today including the counter claims of those who seek democratic reform and those who support a conservative brand of Islamic rule.
Joining the programme are: Jamal Khashoggi, the editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper al-Watan, Robert Lacey, the author of Inside the Kingdom, and Christopher Boucek, from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
This episode of the Riz Khan show aired from Thursday, December 3, 2009.Blog From A Frog?
Posted: 01:50 PM ET
Hello, I'm the Frog you've been seeing all summer long. I'm the one in all those Prince's Rainforest Project videos on YouTube. Yes I've been on Pele's famous foot, I've been caressed by Harrison Ford, I've been held aloft by the Dalai Lama, I've even been cuddled by Robin Williams. Sir Richard Branson even tried to turn me into one of his beautiful red suited stewardesses. That didn't turn out so well.
Why all the fuss hey? Well I'm in trouble. Yep, me and whole load of other species out here in the Rainforest.
You know everyone now seems to be aware of the impact cars, power stations and planes have on climate-changing pollution, but not so many know we have to keep our remaining rainforests alive- standing up- not being cut down.
This viral video created by the Prince's Rainforest Project (click here to watch it and you'll see me at the end) aims to fill the gap and mobilize public support for action. It does a good job in delivering a powerful message while also allows the chance for everyone to make a positive difference.
Yes you too.
If enough people see the video and go to the website (rainforestsos.org) to signal their support for action, then perhaps world leaders will in the weeks ahead of Copenhagen be more persuaded to put in place some properly funded response to help the developing countries value their forests as worth more alive than dead.
Almost 15 million acres are cleared each year- causing billions of tons of carbon dioxide to be released. That's not good news. So please help a Frog in Need- Lend a Hand- well a click I guess- and watch this video, encourage others to watch it (all my frog friends have) and wait until the very end. The more people who see this, and act on it, the more likely it is that we'll get the response the world needs.
NOTE: OK, a Frog didn't really write this, but Kieran Baker did. He's Executive Producer of the Viral Video Campaign for the Prince's Rainforests Project.
Political Bytes Expands to PR and Strategy
Political Bytes PR and Strategy division guarantees effective media placement at the very highest levels of global broadcast and print outlets. Our team's contacts extend across the digital and new media world too, combining expertise from the traditional broadcast and print to the Internet. We have particular expertise with Arab media; utilising contacts within Saudi Arabia and around the Gulf to position project for clients.Our team’s understanding of the broadcast and print aspects of public relations ensures targeted and comprehensive coverage of your messages to a worldwide audience. We have expertise in the following: organising satellite interviews and media training, managing all aspects of any large-scale launch and press conference, producing corporate video and news vignettes handling project updates. Political Bytes PR and Strategy division works closely with the client to deliver an accurate and controlled message, and garner the best possible media coverage.
With particular emphasis on broadcast services and visual communications, the Political Bytes PR and Strategy team combines the collective expertise of award-winning broadcast journalists, media and public relations specialists, and production professionals experienced in all facets of communications planning and execution.
Political Bytes PR and Strategy's services include:Return to top
- Documentary film production of ongoing projects
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