Extremists Use Religion to Influence Youth

Extremist groups are actively competing with religious leaders to sway young minds, exploiting them for profit and using them to spread divisive narratives. Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah of Perak highlighted this concern at the Third International Religious Leaders Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Sultan Nazrin cautioned that these extremist factions do not approach young people with unappealing political agendas. Instead, they disguise their intentions by quoting scripture, mimicking the methods of genuine religious figures to gain influence.

He noted that young individuals are particularly vulnerable to the persistent persuasion and pressure from these voices. The summit, which was also attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Muslim World League Secretary-General Datuk Seri Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim Al-Issa, addressed the critical need to counter such influences.

The Sultan's remarks underscore the sophisticated tactics employed by extremists to radicalize youth, emphasizing the importance of religious leaders actively engaging with and protecting this demographic from harmful ideologies.