Prince Nayef Blames "Outside Forces"

The Saudi school curriculum is once again in the spotlight, and Prince Nayef is up for his usual role as Minister in Charge of Passing the Buck:

"All they are is educational syllabuses, Islamic education syllabuses. As for deviancy, anyone can have that in him. But it doesn't come from their education, it comes from outside -- from bad people who spread their sick ideas," Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz told reporters.

In the remarks carried by the state news agency SPA, the minister also defended the strong Islamic element in Saudi education.

"We are a Muslim people, our faith is Islam and our values are those of Muslims, and that's something we will always stick to. We reject the idea that progress is contrary to Islam," he said at a graduation ceremony for police recruits.

Authorities in the absolute monarchy say the results of the reforms to tone down the kingdom's puritanical Wahhabi form of Islam in school textbooks and mosques will take time to appear.

The report said school books describe Christians and Jews as the "enemies" of Muslims, who are depicted as true believers, and condemns most mainstream Sunni Muslims as lax in practicing their faith and says minority Shi'ite Muslims are heretics.

Some Arab commentators have said the report exaggerates and that Christians and Jews are often not referred to directly, with words like "unbelievers" and "polytheists" used instead.

Phew, glad those commentators clarified that point. And glad Prince Nayef explained that it's outside consultants who are responsible for the Saudi curriculum.