The creator of The 99 comic series Dr Nayef Al Mutawa called social media a double-edged sword and said should be used responsibly to disseminate ideas.
Speaking at the Sharjah International Book Fair over the weekend, the Kuwaiti psychiatrist and writer behind the Islamic superheroes series called on parents to monitor their children’s social media use. He also emphasised that he did not support government censorship because it limited people’s freedom.
Dr Al Mutawa said the platform had helped him promote his comic series to an international audience but also attracted negative reaction. He developed the series, which is based on the 99 attributes of God, back in 2003; it is now a TV show broadcast in the US, Europe and Asia.
“This series was an attempt to change the stereotype about Islam and to promote the idea of accepting and respecting the other and to exchange ideas,” said Dr Al Mutawa, who has appeared on the Arabian Business list of one of the 500 most influential Arab personalities.
aahmed@thenational.ae
