Saudi Islamic affairs ministry to go online: report

Saudi Islamic affairs ministry to go online: report

RIYADH, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia has moved firmly intothe Internet age to fight extremism, launching a Website for theministry of Islamic affairs to help it promote moderate Islam, state-run SPA news agency reported Thursday.

The website, al-islam.com, will go online on January 23, allowingInternet users to be updated on the latest publications of theministry.

The Website will feature a section to help imams (Muslimpreachers) prepare their sermons.

Saudi officials, including interior minister, have urged statereligious bodies and researchers to try to combat the spread ofextremist views.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and a home to Islam's twoholiest shrines, faces mounting pressure from the West to crack downon radical clerics and extremism.