How can shared responsibility be strengthened in the face of extremism and hate speech?

This scene confirms the solidity of Jordanian society and the strength of its bonds, and that such "disgraceful" acts will only increase Jordanians' firmness and cohesion, and that treacherous bullets will not succeed in splitting their ranks.

This was confirmed by His Majesty the King, who said: "... And whoever imagines that the bullets of treachery will split the ranks of Jordanians, their efforts have failed in the face of our firmness and unity. All Jordanians from the north of the country to its south are partners in land and stance, and no treachery will penetrate between them. Deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs and our wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. The blood of a Jordanian is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist anyone who transgresses against this country."

These acts are committed by a "dissonant" group that has no connection to human, religious, or moral values; which requires us all, at both the official and popular levels, to take a serious stand to combat extremist ideology and hate speech and confront their causes by all means.

We cannot ignore some behaviors practiced by individuals in various environments, starting from educational institutions to social media platforms, such as "takfir" (declaring others infidels) and incitement against them, and other practices that sow fear and insecurity among people who differ in their opinions and beliefs.

This calls for concerted efforts to confront extremist ideas, dry up their sources, and apply the law to those who incite hatred or promote violence, in a way that contributes to protecting society and strengthening cohesion among its members.

The question arises here: How can shared responsibility be strengthened in the face of extremism and hate speech? And what role can the family, educational, religious, and media institutions play in consolidating awareness, promoting the values of love and respect for others, and turning them into daily practice?

In this context, Professor of Sociology at the University of Jordan, Dr. Maysa Al-Rawashdeh, believes that the painful events witnessed by Jordan place everyone before a shared responsibility to enhance awareness and confront extremist ideology and hate speech, through the integration of the roles of the family, educational, religious, and media institutions, and by establishing the values of love and respect for humans as daily practices.

She confirms to "$" that the family represents the starting point in this responsibility, by raising children to accept, love, and respect others, regardless of differences in religion, belief, or intellectual orientation, stressing that faith is a personal relationship between a person and their Lord, and it is not permissible to take differences in convictions as a justification for imposing guardianship over others or diminishing their rights, for judgment belongs to God alone.

She points to the importance of monitoring the content children are exposed to, knowing the nature of their relationships and interactions, and opening continuous channels of dialogue with them, which helps in understanding their thoughts and discussing what might infiltrate them in terms of incitement or misinformation.

Al-Rawashdeh warns against ignoring early indicators of extremism, such as justifying violence, declaring others infidels, or violating their rights, calling for dealing with them through dialogue, refuting wrong ideas, and seeking the help of specialists when needed, away from insults and intimidation, which may push children to hide their thoughts instead of discussing them.

She adds that educational institutions bear a primary responsibility in developing critical thinking among students, enhancing their ability to verify information and discuss opinions with respect, in addition to addressing bullying and discrimination within schools and universities. Joint activities and volunteer initiatives also contribute to turning the values of accepting differences into tangible practices, and promoting cooperation and service to others regardless of their backgrounds.

Regarding the role of religious institutions, she stresses the importance of focusing on Quranic texts and Prophetic traditions that emphasize the sanctity of blood, reject aggression and intimidation, and call for mercy, justice, benevolence, respect for differences, and human dignity.

She believes that the responsibility of these institutions is not limited to presenting religious texts, but extends to explaining their meanings and linking them to the lives of young people and their questions, refuting the interpretations used to justify terrorism and takfir, and emphasizing that difference in belief does not justify harming others or diminishing their dignity.

Al-Rawashdeh confirms that the media is a key partner in this responsibility, through commitment to verifying information, confronting rumors and incitement, avoiding sensationalism and generalizing accusations, in addition to respecting victims and their families, highlighting models of solidarity and mutual support, and opening the way for responsible dialogue that enhances social cohesion.

She points out that confronting extremism and hate speech requires an actual partnership between the family, educational, religious, and media institutions, translated into continuous educational programs, dialogues with youth, training on media and information literacy skills, and clear mechanisms for dealing with incitement and threats.

She confirms that the effectiveness of these efforts is linked to the existence of harmony between the values that children learn at home and what they receive at school, university, religious institutions, and the media.

Al-Rawashdeh concludes by emphasizing that the message that should be instilled in children is to respect every person's right to their belief, convictions, and relationship with their Lord, and not to impose faith on others or infringe upon their dignity and lives because of differences. She stresses that building a cohesive society begins with an upbringing based on doing good, respecting humans, and helping others, which contributes to protecting generations and safeguarding society from extremism and hatred.