At UN, Jordan reiterates call to combat extremism, focus on youths

AMMAN — Jordan on Friday stressed the importance of confronting terrorism and radical ideologies disseminated by extremist groups, reaffirming that such ideologies neither represent Islam nor human values.

At a high-level conversation session on “Religions for Peace” at the UN General Assembly in New York, Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood said all monotheistic religions call for the welfare and happiness of humanity, noting that any use of religion to cause harm to people’s lives, dignity, property or security has nothing to do with these faiths.

Dawood noted that such practices are carried out by people who misinterpret religion to suit their purposes and to achieve personal gain, noting that this is what terrorist and extremist groups are doing at present, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Noting that all religions call for peace, the minister said Jordan is a role model in coexistence between Muslims and Christians, highlighting the Kingdom’s initiatives to disseminate the true message of Islam, its tolerance and respect for followers of all faiths.

Countries should draw up plans to prevent radicals from influencing the public, especially young people, and should deal with the causes that extremists exploit to lure others to join them, including economic and job-related issues, he told participants at the discussion in New York.

Jordan has been at the forefront of countries that called for protecting young people from terrorism and extremism, Dawood said, highlighting HRH Crown Prince Hussein’s initiative calling for on engaging young people in activities that contribute to peacemaking and security.

Last year, the UN Security Council adopted an “historic” resolution promoted by Jordan on youth, peace and security, which focuses entirely on the role of young men and women in peace building and countering violent extremism.

The minister mentioned the Amman Youth Declaration, adopted  with inputs from over 10,000 young peace builders at the first-ever Global Forum on Youth, Peace, and Security, outlining the need to leverage institutional support for youth-driven initiatives and programmes.

He also called for holding regular meetings between scholars and clerics to build bridges of understanding and coexistence among the followers of various religions, stressing that in no way should Islam be linked to terrorism.

The UN General Assembly high-level conversation on “Religions for Peace” was an occasion for the membership of the UN and other relevant stakeholders, including representatives of different faiths, to recall the significance of maintaining respectful tolerance across diverse cultures and religions and to address violent extremism and terrorism.

It also provided a chance to give further consideration to the recently unveiled Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, and to reiterate the principles of relevant Security Council resolutions on terrorism, according to the UN website.