Based on the directives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and in coordination with the National Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the Strategy to Combat Violent Extremism at the National Security Advisory, and on the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism, the Academic Psychological Counseling Division at the University of Information Technology and Communications organized a webinar entitled:
”Violent Extremism: From an Idea in the Mind to Destruction Devastates Societies”

The webinar was delivered by Dr. Rana Aziz Al-Mutalibi, a faculty member at the university. In her presentation, she addressed the definition and concept of violent extremism, explaining that crises often begin as an idea formed in the mind before evolving into deviant behavior or an actual threat affecting individuals and societies.

The lecturer also discussed the mechanisms through which extremist ideas transform into threats that endanger the security and safety of societies and states. She highlighted the psychological and social factors that may contribute to drifting some individuals toward paths of extremism, along with the serious consequences this poses to societal stability.

The webinar also addressed the key approaches adopted in combating violent extremism and the means of preventing it, emphasizing the vital role of academic elites and educational institutions as the first line of intellectual defense. This is achieved through promoting a culture of dialogue, strengthening critical thinking, and broadening intellectual horizons, thereby contributing to the creation of a safe intellectual environment free from manifestations of extremism and violence.