In response to the political leadership’s call for the necessity of educating young people and making them aware of the dangers of extremism in all its forms as a contribution to its rejection, the Education and Student Affairs Sector at the Faculty of Arts at Ain Shams University held a symposium entitled: “Highlighting sound thought and the dangers of extremist thought” at Gherbal Stadium under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of the University, Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Mortada, Dean of the Faculty and the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hanan Kamel, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, and the presence of Prof. Dr. Amal Mabrouk, Head of the Department of Philosophy and Coordination of Neamat Khalifa, Director of the Youth Welfare Department, and the preparation of the students of the Union Committees, headed by Habiba Nasser, the President of the Union and her deputy, Maryam Adel.

Prof. Dr. Hanan Kamel, Vice Dean of the Faculty, during the opening of the symposium on the need to be aware and keen on the advancement and progress of the country, and to understand the dangers we live in, and to be alert and wary of extremist ideologies, as they infiltrate the intellectually weak, who are not armed with science and culture, with the need to investigate honesty and truth by ourselves and not blindly believe in statements that are circulated without proof.

Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Samir Al-Khatib, Professor of Drama and Art Criticism at the College, also lectured at the symposium and stressed the importance of rejecting violence and extremism through awareness of the changes of the times, education, filling the intellectual void, learning about the culture of the other, allowing the opposite opinion and self-direction.

He also reviewed the types of extremism, including cultural, sports, political and religious extremism.

He explained the signs that characterize the extremist person or the one who tends to extremism, which is the lack of recognition of the existence of the other, the assumption of possession of the universal truth and the denial of what is contrary to that. Not accepting extraneous ideas as they are, but thinking, returning the idea to its motives, weighing it on the scales of sanity, and presenting it to societal values, religion and morals.

The attendees also pointed out that any change in ideas that uses violence is considered extremism.

He stressed the importance of rejecting violence and extremism through awareness of the changes of the times, education, filling the intellectual void, learning about the culture of the other, allowing the opposite opinion and self-direction.

He also reviewed the types of extremism, including cultural, sports, political and religious extremism.

He explained the signs that characterize the extremist person or the one who tends to extremism, which is the lack of recognition of the existence of the other, the assumption of possession of the universal truth and the denial of what is contrary to that. Not accepting extraneous ideas as they are, but thinking, returning the idea to its motives, weighing it on the scales of sanity, and presenting it to societal values, religion and morals.

The attendees also pointed out that any change in ideas that uses violence is considered extremism.

At the end of the meeting, the Vice Dean presented the Student Union Shield to Prof. Dr. Muhammad Samir Al-Khatib in appreciation of his efforts.