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Extremists distanced from Saudi education

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Saudi Education Minister Mohammed al-Rashid said the ministry is screening teachers to prevent Muslim extremists from influencing students.

With the beginning of the new school year in the kingdom al-Rashid who held a meeting with senior teachers in Jeddah late Monday stressed the need "to keep extremism and exaggeration outside schools."

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Al-Rashid said the government is not willing to allow teachers with extremist beliefs to brainwash children.

King Fahd last week underscored the need to confront extremists seeking to destabilize the oil-rich kingdom, saying terrorism is tarnishing Islam's image worldwide.

The United States blamed growing extremism in the kingdom on the rigid education system, which is based on the teachings of Islam and Islamic Sharia or law.

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