Jordan to continue at forefront of terror fight — Judeh

AMMAN — Jordan will remain at the forefront of efforts to fight terror and extremism wherever they are, in a holistic approach that encompasses military, security and ideology, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said Tuesday.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting for the 13th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference held by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Judeh said the gathering comes at a time when "our countries" are facing grave threats to their security and stability, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Noting that Muslims have suffered the most at the hand of terrorism, the minister called for joint work to utilise all available resources to combat extremism within a united strategy that covers the aspects of ideology and security.

The efforts of the international coalition formed in late 2014 have paid off, limiting the capabilities of these terror groups, especially Daesh, Judeh noted.

But more work is needed to address the flow of foreign militants and enhance local parties' ability to combat Daesh domestically, he said.

Noting that the policies of exclusion and sectarianism have given rise to terrorism, the minister commended the Saudi-led Islamic alliance against terror and called for action to address the root causes of extremism.

He reiterated the need to give more attention to countries in the Balkans to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies and called for respecting diversity and enlightenment.

The minister also urged more focus on immunising young people against extremism, highlighting Jordan's efforts in this regard.

Judeh also referred to the "battle" against terrorism in cyberspace to prevent the likes of Daesh from recruiting new members around the world through social media.

The region's central cause, he reaffirmed, remains the Palestinian issue, describing it as the main reason behind instability in the Middle East.

The minister stressed Jordan's commitment to safeguarding Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem and taking all necessary measures to halt Israeli violations against Al Haram Al Sharif/Al Aqsa Mosque.

Also speaking at the meeting, Iyad Ameen Madani, the secretary general of the OIC, said that "addressing the phenomena of extremism, violence and terrorism, which pour into the reservoir of hate rhetoric for Muslims [Islamophobia] is a top priority".

He also referred to the Palestinian cause and the continuous suffering of the Afghani, Syrian, Somali and Yemeni refugees, as well as to the sectarian schism and economic crises, according to an OIC statement.

Over a period of two days, the meeting discusses the draft agenda and programme of the 13th Islamic summit, scheduled to be held on April 14 and 15, the statement said.