27 May 2015, Kuwait; Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon has underscored the importance of combatting terrorism and forging a joint effort to prevent terrorists from attempting to “redraw the map of the world”.
Speaking at the Special Session of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC on Combatting Terrorism this afternoon in Kuwait, the Minister stated that, “over the past year, we have seen a barbaric terrorist group to emerge in Syria and Iraq that pushed the borders of cruelty and mayhem. This terrorist group is using the veil of Islam, as a pretext for inflicting terror, and committing gross heinous violations of human rights”.
The Minister noted that the Islamic Ummah continues to be plagued with an endless cycle of carnage and turmoil. “It would not be wise to hope that an external power will come to our rescue. The responsibility lies on us, the Islamic world, to craft a solution; a solution that recognizes human dignity, a solution that addresses the root causes of conflict, and a solution, that promotes the real causes of peace”, said Minister Dunya.
In her remarks the Minister also condemned the attacks on Muslims, particularly in the West, and the discriminations against people just because they are Muslims. Islam, she said is “increasingly being associated with terror and extremism. Islamophobia, as a spectrum of negative expressions continues to expand rapidly”.
As a way forward, Minister Dunya put to the Council to streamline counter-radicalisation efforts and to ensure a lasting victory against violent extremism. “We need to allow our societies to empower their minds and open their hearts to respect the other. Then only could we cultivate a culture of respect that will enable the forging of a joint vision on tolerance and reject terrorism”.
“Countering terrorism is a battle that we can win only if we fight it with our minds”, said the Foreign Minister in conclusion.
ENDS