Stories abound of many young men who were given a second lease of life after straying to the call of terrorism.

The mother of a young man who had previously joined a rebellious group recalled, “Ever since my then 22-year-old son left the country, I thought I would never see him again. He had become influenced by a wrong group of troublemakers and suddenly disappeared from our lives without leaving a trace.

“He had told his father that he was planning to go to Makkah to perform Umrah. Before he left, he quit his job, sold his car, and gave away all his possessions. We desperately searched for him for three long years and had no idea if he was dead or alive.”

After receiving an anonymous call saying their son was in Iraq, the distraught parents went to the Ministry of Interior and asked for help. The Ministry found out that he was locked up in a jail in Yemen. Their eldest son traveled to Yemen to negotiate his brother’s release, but to no avail.

“Our last hope was Prince Naif. He interceded and got him transferred to Riyadh. Upon his arrival on Saudi soil, we were allowed to see him. He was placed in a rehabilitation center, where through reform and educational program he learned the true teachings of Islam, a religion of peace and forgiveness,” she continued.

“Not only did the Ministry of Interior help remove the shrouds of ignorance that had surrounded our son’s mind, but they gave him a second chance and a new life. I will be forever be grateful to Allah and to the leaders of this country, especially Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, may Allah bless his soul,” said the mother.