It is high time to develop multi-dimensional counter-terrorism strategy, says Amal Al Qubaisi

ASTANA, 1st June 2016 (WAM) -- Terrorism poses a serious threat to human civilisation and requires rallying of efforts to eliminate it from all across the world to ensure a better future for the next generations, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC), said. Addressing the opening session of an international conference, entitled, 'Religions Against Terrorism,' in Astana yesterday, Dr. Al Qubaisi said, "We need to see a tangible progress in the war against terror. Our generation should be wise and creative in fighting terrorism, the same way we invented technologies that revolutionised the world." She further said, "It is high time to put in place a comprehensive multi-dimensional strategy to counter terrorism and to rally all our efforts and determination, regardless of the religion or the race we belong to." The conference, held under the patronage of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, was opened by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan. Dr. Al Qubaisi thanked President Nazarbayev, as well as the chairman and members of the Senate of Kazakhstan, for hosting the important event. She urged the parliamentarians and religious leaders attending the conference to take a "strong and decisive action against terrorism." According to Dr. Al Qubaisi, one approach to combat terrorism is to eliminate poverty. "Poverty breeds terrorism. There are more than 830 million people around the world today who survive on less than US$ 2 a day. It is a real tragedy. We need to invest in economic and development knowledge systems to provide job opportunities and, importantly, to open a window of hope for future generations. Unemployment is terrorism's best friend. It is the fertile ground in which terrorists thrive," she noted. Dr. Al Qubaisi emphasised that the terrorism in the Middle East is not related to Islam. "The teachings of Islam promote openness, peaceful co-existence and accepting people of other beliefs. Islam also preaches centrism and tolerance. The terrorists and their armed militias have hijacked the tolerant Islam and have been using it to serve their subversive agenda." Dr. Al Qubaisi also underlined the need for women's empowerment and supporting youth as effective tools in averting evils of terrorism. She referred to the steps taken by the UAE to fight extremist and terrorist ideologies, saying the country is home to people from 202 nationalities, who live together in peace and harmony. She added that the UAE has recently created a ministerial portfolio for the youth, which is overseen by a 22 year old minister, the world's youngest. She also said the country has established the Abu Dhabi-based Hedayah Centre, the first-ever international centre dedicated to countering violent extremism. - Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international/1395296168059.html