Saudi Arabia is taking new steps to counter the messages of Islamic State and other Islamist militant groups online, a senior Saudi official said on Saturday, as US President Donald Trump began a visit to the kingdom. Mohammed al-Issa, secretary-general of the Saudi-based Muslim World League, told reporters the kingdom will open a coordinating center on Sunday in an inauguration ceremony attended by Trump and Saudi King Salman. Saudi Arabia aims to take the fight beyond military action “because we know these groups can only be defeated if we defeat their ideology”, he said. The Ideological War Center, which launched operations last month, aims to correct what it calls “misguidance” about Islam through its channels on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Ahead of Trump’s trip, the White House said the president expected tangible results from Saudi Arabia in countering Islamic extremism.

Source: Egypt Independent May 21, 2017 09:11 UTC