We will not spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing with destructive ideas. We will destroy them today.

Analyse

The quote aligns precisely with MBS’s remarks during his October 2017 speech at the FII in Riyadh, where he emphasized a 'moderate Islam' agenda and pledged to eradicate extremist ideologies within a generation. Multiple independent sources, including **Reuters**, **The Guardian**, and **Al Arabiya**, corroborated the statement verbatim or in paraphrase. The Saudi government’s subsequent social reforms (e.g., lifting the driving ban for women, curbing religious police powers) were framed as part of this broader initiative. No credible evidence suggests the quote was fabricated or misattributed.

Achtergrond

The 2017 FII forum was a high-profile event where MBS, then Crown Prince, outlined his **Vision 2030** economic and social reform plan, positioning Saudi Arabia as a 'moderate' nation open to global investment. His remarks on extremism reflected a strategic pivot away from ultra-conservative Wahhabist influences, though critics noted tensions between rhetoric and ongoing repression of dissent. The statement was part of a broader PR campaign to rebrand Saudi Arabia’s international image.

Samenvatting verdict

Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) did make this statement at the 2017 Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum, as widely reported by credible media outlets and documented in official transcripts.

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