Report: UAE continues to combat extremism via comprehensive strategy

ABU DHABI, 3rd October, 2018 (WAM) -- The UAE has realised, at an early stage, the importance of drafting a comprehensive strategy to combat extremism and terrorism, as well as eliminating the regional and international intellectual and cultural causes of extremism. The UAE was among the first countries to call for combining anti-terrorist security campaigns and intellectual campaigns to counter extremist ideologies. The country also contributed to international efforts to combat and expose extremists and terrorists, as well as to highlight the clear discrepancies in their ideas and plans, which contradict the values and teachings of Islam. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, President of the Global Council of Muslim Communities, said that the UAE was among the first countries to realise the dangers of terrorism, which it sought to combat through a comprehensive strategy and have enabled it to become a model to follow in this area, as well as to contribute to many regional and international anti-terrorism efforts. He added that the UAE is aware that terrorism can be eliminated by countering its violent ideologies and has made numerous efforts to adopt an international plan to eliminate the intellectual and cultural causes of violence and hatred, and counter parties and groups that provide extremist groups with media platforms to spread their toxic ideas in Arab and Muslim communities. Al Nuaimi noted that the UAE has hosted global forums on combatting terrorism and extremism, supported moderate religious discourse, protected the youth and raised their awareness about the risks of becoming victims of these groups and their destructive ideas. The UAE, through many initiatives, forums and research centres, has exposed the ideologies of terrorist groups and warned Arab communities about their toxic ideologies. The UAE is a key supporter of Hedayah, the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, which is based in Abu Dhabi. It has also, in partnership with the US, formed the Sawab Centre, a digital communications hub, whose objective is to combat ombat violent extremist ideologies online and promote positive alternatives. The UAE has also hosted the Muslim Council of Elders, which aims to achieve peace and coexistence in the Islamic world and combat extremism, as well as supported the World Council of Muslim Communities, which aims to promote the culture of peace and social security. Dr. Mohammed Bashari, Secretary-General of the World Council for Muslim Communities, said that the council, based in the nation's capital, plays a key role in the renewal of religious discourse, through establishing rules that will strengthen the values of tolerance and coexistence. He also highlighted the council’s key role in combatting terrorism and extremism, through its four organisational pillars, which are its General Conference of over 600 Islamic organisations, an advisory body with 85 members from 142 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and America, and its executive office with seven members. The UAE also created an early proactive vision to monitor the dangers posed by terrorism to the region and around the world, through well-researched plans that protected its local community and its positive international platforms and events. The UAE has issued relevant legislations and procedures to protect the culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, which include Federal Law No. 07 of 2014 on Combating Terrorism Offences, and Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, as well as the formation of the Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit in 2009 at the UAE Central Bank, to prevent money laundering and combat the financing of terrorist groups and individuals.