JEDDAH, April 5: Eminent Islamic scholar and thinker Dr Abdul Qader Tash passed away at the age of 53. He was one of the leading media persons, who called for a strong media to defend Islamic and Muslim causes.

Dr Tash worked as the chief editor of Arab News, the leading English newspaper of Saudi Arabia and four Arabic newspapers including Al Bilad daily and Al Muslimoon weekly. His articles were the first of their kind in Saudi newspapers that warned against the threat of extremism.

He stressed in these articles a few years ago that it is high time for guiding and correcting those who were perpetrating extremist ideas. Dr Tash was a member of the recently-established National Human Rights Association and was a familiar face at international seminars and conferences.

He was also the first director of the Islamic satellite channel Iqra, and director of public relations at the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL). At the time of his death, Dr Tash was in the process of establishing an international newspaper named Al-Mustaqbil based in Egypt. He was author of 13 books focusing on Islamic media and Muslim issues and included "America and Islam: Co-Existence or Confrontation." -APP/IINA