Dr. al-Sharqawy to International Students: Effective Communication with Youth is a Bulwark against Digital Extremism & a Means to Strengthen Intellectual Awareness
The World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates held a workshop lectured by Dr. Ahmad al-Sharqawy, Head of al-Azhar Institutes Sector, with the participation of 75 international students from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Benin, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Somalia, the Philippines, Sudan, Cameroon, Togo, and Tanzania. This activity came within the efforts exerted by the Organization to instill al-Azhar moderate approach among international students and raise their awareness of intellectual issues. The workshop is part of a series of scholarly sessions convened by the Organization to prepare international students to serve as ambassadors of al-Azhar moderate approach in their home countries.
Dr. Ahmad al-Sharqawy affirmed that effective communication with youth is one of the most important means of protecting them from extremist ideas they may encounter online. He noted that sustained dialogue among the family, the educational institution and students contributes to building a balanced personality capable of distinguishing between sound and deviant ideas.
He explained the concept of digital extremism and its various forms, underlining that some groups and online platforms exploit social media to spread extremist ideas and recruit youth through misleading content or discourse that incites hatred and violence. This requires strengthening communication with them and raising their awareness of these risks, thereby helping to build their intellectual resilience.
He stressed the importance of developing students’ digital awareness and teaching them how to engage consciously with content published online, avoiding being swept along by rumors or information from unknown sources, while emphasizing the importance of verifying the sources of information before believing or circulating it.
The Head of the al-Azhar Institutes Sector highlighted the pivotal role played by al-Azhar ash-Sharif and its institutes in building students’ awareness and instilling the values of moderation, tolerance and acceptance of others through educational curricula and cultural and educational activities, which helps build the intellectual and moral resilience of young people. He stressed the role of al-Azhar’s institutions, including the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates, in carrying out such workshops targeting international students from various countries around the world.
He also affirmed that the family is a fundamental partner in protecting and guiding children, by directing them toward acquiring beneficial knowledge and instilling in them values of goodness and love of society. This will help to prepare generations capable of positive participation in the development of their communities and the preservation of their unity.
Al-Sharqawy explained that al-Azhar institutes are working on developing awareness programs on the dangers of digital extremism, aimed at developing students’ critical thinking skills and information-verification abilities, strengthening ongoing dialogue among students, teachers and parents, and raising awareness of the risks of anonymous accounts and online sources, alongside efforts to employ social media in spreading moderate thinking.
