A debate was held this morning, August 16^th, in cooperation with Qatar Debate Center, at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, on the role of social media in spreading extremist ideas. The debate was held as part of implementing the ministry’s plan related to the national strategy to combat terrorism.

In the framework of the discussion, the debate was divided into two teams, the affirmative team, consisting of Mona Al-Badr and Munira Al-Borsheed, and the opposing team, consisting of Yousef Al-Mansoori and Younis Al-Mana.

The two teams discussed the causes of extremist ideas and the contents that support them. They worked to spread preventive information about this thought by providing the youth with the skills to confront it and instilling the principles of focusing on the importance of intellectual dialogue with an emphasis on the fact that social media is an undeniable reality. However, the greatest danger lies in the lack of verification of the credibility of the information and the necessity of monitoring and spreading awareness through electronic platforms.

Nadia Al-Emadi, a youth affairs specialist at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, explained that the debate came out of the ministry’s plan to implement the national strategy to combat terrorism and violent extremism (2020-2025) and to enhance awareness among the youth of the concepts of extremism and terrorism and the role that social media can play in changing ideas and beliefs. Not only that, but to also qualify Qatari youth who are conscious and aware of the concepts of extremism and are cautious and vigilant in their use of social media.

She stressed the importance of cooperation between the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Qatar Debate Center. She noted that the ministry is a link between the Qatar Debate Center and Qatari youth, which ensures the provision of appropriate training by an accredited body, given that the Ministry is the entity concerned with Qatari youth. She also noted that the debate resonated widely among the audience through their interventions, as youth demanded that such an event be repeated.