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At the conclusion of its sessions,

Media and terrorism Conference agrees on the draft of the Universal Declaration for Media and terrorism.

Today, the events of the Second International Conference on Media and Terrorism: means and strategies were concluded. The Conference was organized by King Khalid University (KKU), in Abha, Saudi Arabia, during the period from 7 to 9 of this month, under the auspices of the Minister of Education, His Excellency, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Issa. The closing ceremony of the occasion was attended by the General Director of police, Asir Region, Maj. Gen. Saleh bin Sulaiman Alqrzei, and security patrols commander, Colonel Ali Waaqidi, in addition to a number of security leaders in the region.

The Rector, of King Khalid University, who is also the General Supervisor of the Conference, His Excellency Prof. Faleh bin Rajaa Allah Al Solamy, said, "It is obvious that media is witnessing evolution and a breadth on its activities. This shouldered the university an important role on how to invest in media, and use it in a meaningful way that would serve national issues. We hope specialized sections in universities will address the current issues and activate the role of the media in protecting generations from the evils of misleading ideas and destructive trends. It is time for these specialized departments to prepare experts who are capable of carrying out this responsibility. Terrorism has become a global phenomenon, and the world has become - due to the media evolution - a small village where the terrorists wander freely through the media. It is a community duty for universities too". 

The conference has continued its activities over three days to hold synchronous scientific sessions, which were attended by a number of experts, in addition to the participation of many researchers and those interested in the topic of the conference, as well as a number of graduates of media studies in Saudi universities, and the students of media and communications department at King Khalid University.

At the end of the conference, the participants raise their thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, for his approval to organize the conference, and for his continued support to educational institutions and universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). They also thanked the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, and the Deputy Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz.

This conference was just a part of the unlimited support given to the Saudi universities, including the organization of great scientific events. Participants also raised thanks to the sponsor of the conference, the Minister of Education, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Issa, for his patronage, and for his appreciation of these initiatives and follow-up to the tireless activities of the conference, which reflected positively on the effective and productive scientific and research environment during the sessions of the conference.

Participants at the conference also expressed their gratitude to the Rector of King Khalid University, His Excellency, Prof. Faleh bin Rajaa Allah Al Solamy, for hosting this important conference, and for the warm reception and generous hospitality accorded the participants.

Participants at the Second International Conference on Media and terrorism have provided the following recommendations:

1. To approve the draft of the Universal Declaration for Media and terrorism, and participants' proposal to name it Abha Universal Declaration of Media and terrorism.

2. Lifting this announcement to King Khalid University to take appropriate action to complete the grounds and procedures for the adoption of this declaration.

3. To support the establishment of a national observatory for terrorism cases in the media. This observatory is mandated to monitor and analyze media treatments to the issues of extremism, violence and terrorism in all its forms, and issue periodic strategic reports in the service of the Saudi national decision.

4. Due to the importance of the subject of the International Conference - terrorism - the participants call for organizing of an international conference outside the KSA to make it a global conference.

5. Conducting an international comparison study to examine the relationship between the size of the media coverage in the international media, and social networks, and the growing phenomenon of terrorism in the past two decades, with the participation of researchers from different languages and cultures.