Indonesian media is reporting on claims by the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) that the organization will “contribute to efforts to keep Muslim youths away from extremism.” According to the report:
The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) will contribute to efforts to keep Muslim youths away from extremism, mindful that it is young people who can easily be enticed to commit wrongful acts and taken advantage of, a spokesman said. “Youths are really the main target of those extremist groups as well as those deviant thinkers,” Dr Saleh Al-Wohaibi, secretary general of WAMY, said at a press conference here Friday. The Riyadh-based International Islamic organization is to hold its 11th international conference themed “Youth and Social Responsibility,” in Jakarta this weekend. The participants in the event will include scientists, eminent personalities, intellectuals and preachers from around the world. Al-Wohaibi said the direction in which youths are to be led must be clear as this aspect was important in empowering them. On the theme chosen for this year`s conference, he said WAMY had chosen it because this organization bore a responsibility to guide youths into positive directions. Besides, statistics had shown unemployment among youths was continuing to rise worldwide. Al-Wohaibi appreciated Indonesian Muslim youths for their steadfastness in showing solidarity with their fellow Muslims, especially with regard to the struggle of the Palestinian people to defend their homeland. In an earlier statement, Al-Wohaibi said Muslim youths face a series of challenges as a result of which they have become alienated from the society. Their problems were compounded by the fact that they stand on a shaky foundation, which is further weakened by the onslaught of modernity on the one hand and deviant forces on the other. The problem now was how to draw up a comprehensive action program that seeks to reclaim this vulnerable section of the society through measures that are inspirational in their scope and dimension, he said. (*)
The report did not clarify how WAMY intends to keep Indonesian Muslim youths away from extremism globally while supporting a focus on the Palestinian issue.
Muslim Brothers were instrumental in the founding of WAMY and the organization continues to enjoy close relations with the global Muslim Brotherhood. U.S. government agencies and officials have argued that WAMY has helped spread Islamic extremism around the world as well as sponsoring terrorism in places such as Bosnia, Israel, and India. Numerous previous posts have discussed WAMY’s activities throughout the world. Previous posts have discussed the organizations apparent recent financial difficulties.