Varsity aims to make youth feel proud of KSA

Updated 25 September 2012
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Varsity aims to make youth feel proud of KSA

RIYADH: The rector of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Suleiman bin Abdullah Aba Al-Khail, said yesterday that the celebration of the National Day was an important occasion for highlighting the great achievements of King Abdulaziz in the unification of Saudi Arabia and establishing a state that made the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah as its constitution.
He said the Kingdom’s policy of moderation applied to all its affairs. As a result, it had a great impact on promoting the concept of brotherhood and unity, loyalty and cohesion among its people. It has promoted cooperation and solidarity among all sections of society to raise the country to the highest degree of greatness, progress and in achieving global leadership.
He said this symbolizes the aspects of Saudi history that made the Kingdom a great nation in terms of its mission, its achievements and its regional and international place. Referring to the theme, “We defend and build you oh you Islamic country” as a slogan for this year’s celebration at the university, the rector said it aimed to promote a sense of pride for "our beloved country and develop a spirit of belonging to it." Aba Al-Khail met with Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Shigeru Endo yesterday to discuss global issues. He said the biggest proof of the educational ties between the two countries is the existence of the Arab-Islamic Institute in Tokyo’s University, which develops and promotes Arabic culture in Japan.
Endo said that during the era of King Abdullah, Japanese universities have signed more than 30 memorandums of understanding with Saudi universities and more than 450 Saudis learned Japanese under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program.

 


‘Cake not hate’ campaign becomes ‘Dates not hate’ in Madinah

“The Joshie-Man” and his father Dan Harris in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. (Supplied)
Updated 02 February 2026
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‘Cake not hate’ campaign becomes ‘Dates not hate’ in Madinah

  • Dan said he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality and that his family was warmly welcomed
  • He said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam

LONDON: A British autistic and non-verbal boy who has been visiting UK mosques and distributing cakes to promote solidarity amid an increase in far-right support in the country has taken his message of love to Madinah.

Joshua Harris, or “The Joshie-Man” as the 12-year-old is known to his social media fans, has handed out hundreds of his baked goods to worshipers at mosques in major British cities over the last few months.

The “Cake not hate” campaign came about after an Islamophobic attack on a mosque in his home city of Peterborough in October 2025.

Harris and his father visited Masjid Darassalaam, the mosque that was targeted, with cakes that the boy had baked and distributed them to the congregation soon after the attack. Since then, Harris has visited dozens of mosques in the UK.

On a recent trip to the Middle East, he and his father visited Madinah. In a local twist that pays tribute to the holy city’s famous date varieties including ajwa and ambar, Harris handed out dates to people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Cake not hate” campaign became “Dates not hate” for Saudi Arabia.

“He was greeted really, really warmly. There were some really touching moments where people were kissing his hands and his head. It was really lovely,” his father, Dan Harris, said.

Dan, the founder of global charity Neurodiversity in Business, said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam.

“We met people from all around the world. It was amazing. It’s like the United Nations there, you get people from different countries and it just goes to show you that the Muslim community, or the Ummah more generally, is not a homogeneous group,” he said.

“We saw people from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and it was really interesting for us.”

Dan said his visit to Madinah, considered the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah for Muslims, was “profound and life-changing.”

He added: “I would say it’s my favourite city in the world due to the peace and tranquillity I felt there.”

Dan added that he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality: “Everywhere we went, people were taking down my number and insisting that we come for dinner, insisting they pick us up from the location. They were extremely attentive to Joshie as well, making sure his needs were met. We felt a great sense of welcome, something Saudi Arabia is known for.”