Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan met students at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) and shared his views on a variety of issues.
During his visit to Qatar, Prince Hassan also held a discussion with the management and staff of Silatech at its headquarters in Doha.
Speaking to NU-Q students of a Media Law and Ethics class, he addressed the role of the press in Arab societies, emphasising the importance of open dialogue - whether positive or negative - on social and political issues in the Middle East. Journalists “can only help the process if knowledge is burst open”, he said.
Prince Hassan also gave students insight into Jordan’s upcoming national census, stressing the need for accessible data about the region. He encouraged NU-Q students to enhance the field of journalism through reliable reporting and critical thinking. “Try to be truthful to yourself, and then try to be truthful with others,” he advised. “It’s not only the art of conversing, but it’s also the art of listening that is important.”
At Silatech, he was introduced to a number of the organisation’s main initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurship, employability and engagement for youth in the region. Prince Hassan and the Silatech staff then discussed issues such as inter-faith tolerance and dialogue, challenges facing the Arab youth, the relationship of peace and stability with economic development, and the road ahead.
He expressed hope that the people of the region could bridge their ethnic, sectarian and national differences to work together for the common good.