Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Center Okaz/Saudi GazetteRIYADH – Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Center for Advice and Care has been able to rectify the thoughts of thousands of misguided people. Since its establishment five years ago it has released 22 batches of returnees from Guantanamo and other regions of conflict. The Center supports those released with cash assistance exceeding millions of riyals in total. It has a number of reform programs presented by elite academics in Shariah, sociology, psychology, history, sports and plastic arts. Every week, several hours are allocated for each field. A number of reform programs – religious, social and psychological – have been carried out through the Advice Program and the Detainees Care Center made up of an elite group of Saudi specialists in all fields, who counter dangerous thoughts and present true Islam, explain misconceptions they have and prepare to merge them with the society after they are released. After rehabilitating, advising and releasing the people, some have returned to their jobs and others were given jobs. Some returnees were given jobs in the Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Center for Care and Advice. Some were able to marry after the Center provided them with marriage requirements, including financial support. The Shariah program The Shariah programs include lessons tailored to the people's ages, in a friendly atmosphere that permits participation with one's opinions. The Shariah program numerous themes include those related to Takfiri matters, those related to considering other Muslims as unbelievers; jihad and its controls; religious knowledge and Ulema; and the stance of Muslims toward treaties and conciliation. The program's accomplishments include clarifying and rectifying many religious matters for people in the program. Social program The Social program aims to rehabilitate the individuals, and their families, so those in the program can merge with society and deal with life's circumstances. The program is in the form of social lectures to train people to deal with the society when they are released. The beneficiary is also rehabilitated by visiting his family for several weeks. Programs for the families are presented by a team from the Center. The financial reward the Ministry of Interior gives to beneficiaries following their release has a big role in enabling the rehabilitated militants to merge into the society. Psychological Program The Psychological Program addresses many matters and some ideas that help rectify the thoughts and misconceptions that were instilled in the beneficiaries. All matters are clarified with collective participation, on a scientific basis. Treatment through plastic art Those in charge of Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Center for Advice and Care have taken the help of treatment through plastic art; academics specialized in the field present lectures and works of art, with the beneficiaries' participation. This reflects the extent of their responses to the programs the Center provides. Sports Programs Rest houses belonging to the Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Center have sports facilities and games including football grounds, swimming pools, table tennis and electronic games. It is note worthy that the Center organizes a cultural evening every week for beneficiaries in which a number of Ulema and university professors in the Shariah participate, and there are consultations about social and psychological development, developing personal skills, small-project management. The Center also lets beneficiaries to talk to their families via the telephone and there are family visits during which married couples are allowed to be in seclusion for some time. When beneficiaries are released, the Center provides them with social and psychological support that includes finding work and continuing education, and financial aid reaching SR10,000 per beneficiary. The Center owns more than 10 rest houses in Riyadh and there are plans to set up others in Jeddah, the Eastern Province, Al-Qassim and Abha. These complexes contain all that is required by beneficiaries including classrooms, bedrooms, green areas, tents, and swimming pools, play areas for different games, satellite TV channels and local newspapers. __
