TAIF: ARAB NEWS
Wednesday 12 September 2012

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal yesterday urged Saudi youth to confront the anti-Islam smear campaign by leading an exemplary life, following the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. “You are a good example to the whole world in adhering to the eternal values, the values of the Qur’an and Sunnah,” he told young Saudis while addressing a youth seminar at the opening of Souk Okaz festival.

Prince Khaled thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for giving his directives to rebuild the historic Souk Okaz to promote Arab culture and civilization. “Souk Okaz will become a window on the future and a stage for dialogue benefiting all people, especially Saudis.”

He called upon Saudi youth to participate actively in the annual festival, presenting innovative and attractive ideas and programs. “We also need the participation of economic, scientific and technological institutions. “We need not cry about the past. We need smile of the future,” the governor said at the applause of more than 700 youth who were present at the gathering. Prince Khaled highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in terms of huge industrial cities, desal plants, electricity power stations and state-of-the-art road systems.

The seminar was attended by Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities; Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, president of Youth Welfare Presidency; Khaled Al-Anqari, higher education minister; and Abdul Aziz Khoja, minister of culture and information.