December 9, 2021: Virtual round table Brussels – Paris, against extremism and terrorism

« International policies against extremism and terrorism 20 years after the attacks of September 11: between reality and hope ».

Within the framework of the European campaign against extremism and terrorism, the European Assembly, in collaboration with the office of HE Minister Prof. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, the Austrian Institute for International Relations in Vienna, the European Government Center for Strategic Communication in Brussels, the Association of European Press for the Arab World in Paris and the European Academy for Development and Research in Belgium, organized on the Zoom platform a virtual round table entitled « International policies against extremism and terrorism 20 years after the terrorist attacks of 11 September, between reality and hope ”, round table which had a great participation.

It brought together more than 100 participants, academics, politicians, specialists and diplomats from more than 20 countries around the world, including the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Germany and Sweden.

The following spoke: Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, HE Minister Prof. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi, HE Gilles de Kerchove, former EU Counterterrorism Coordinator, HE Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr., former United States National Security Officer, Hon. Gennaro Migliori, Member of the Italian Parliament, President of the Parliamentary Assembly for the Mediterranean, HE Charlie Weimers, Swedish Member of the European Parliament, Doug Bandow, Principal Researcher at the Cato Institute for Studies in the United States of America, Dr Magnus Norell, Assistant researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Dr Daniella Pisoiu, senior researcher, Austrian Institute of International Affairs (OIIP) and Dr Eva Saenz-Diez, researcher at GERMAC, Catholic University of Louvain.

The roundtable took an in-depth look at international counter-extremism and terrorism policies over the past 20 years and international transformations in this context, especially with regard to the role of education and intellectuals.

She noted the urgency of stepping up international efforts to combat the rhetoric of extremism and hatred that threatens human societies.

The participants commended the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to promote policies of tolerance and dialogue, in particular those of HE Minister Dr Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi with the writing of his book “The Mirage”, nominated for the Nobel Prize. literature for the years 2019 and 2020.

Beforehand, Dr Nidal Shoukeir, strategic government consultant and professor of strategic communication and government relations in Paris, underlined the need to strengthen international policies to fight against the discourse of extremism and hate, which has considerably increased the latter. time.

He said that « today, in light of the unprecedented spread of extremism and hate speech, priority must be given to encouraging efforts towards anticipatory education », calling, on behalf of the participants, governments to develop appropriate educational materials and include them in educational curricula.

He also praised the tireless efforts of Abu Dhabi, efforts appreciated and considered as an example to follow in terms of spreading a culture of tolerance and dialogue.

HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal, in his speech, recalled the « soft » measures adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of a strategy of comprehensive reform of the State in its war against terrorism and extremism.

This includes an intellectual rehabilitation program, with priority given to education and the establishment of a mechanism to see how the religious institution plays its role in the fight against terrorism in Saudi Arabia.

The country’s highest religious leadership, known as the Council of Senior Scholars, has issued fatwas strongly condemning terrorism.

New measures have also been taken to strengthen vigilance at the local level through the creation of the World Center against Extremist Ideology and the use of all media platforms to condemn the idea of ​​terrorism and terrorist acts. , emphasizing the true meaning of Islam as a religion of peace, mercy and tolerance.

For his part, HE Mr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi praised the efforts of the United Arab Emirates which has launched a series of initiatives and projects aimed at promoting dialogue between different cultures.

« We are focusing on laws and policies that help enforce cultural and religious tolerance through dialogue and moderate discourse, » he said.

His book « The Mirage » highlights the struggle of the Arab and Islamic world against the actions of extremist religious organizations which constitute military and security threats, but also a significant intellectual challenge.

“You cannot kill an ideology with a bullet,” he said.
This is why governments today need new strategies based on community engagement and partnership.

S E Gilles de Kerchove underlined the importance of using modern technologies and artificial intelligence to fight against electronic terrorism and hate speech disseminated on social networks. He pointed out that since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the world has to some extent succeeded in sustaining alternative discourse alongside extremist rhetoric. Like Dr Daniella Pisoiu, he praised the Emirati model and the role of Abu Dhabi in the dissemination of policies of dialogue and tolerance to fight against this rhetoric of hate.

HE Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr. called for reconsidering the work of penal institutions that have become incubators of terrorist ideology and for reforming justice systems through new legislation.

It is important to spread an alternative discourse to extremist ideologies in order to fight them firmly and prevent their spread.

MEP Charlie Weimers called for fighting both through legislation, through laws, praising Abu Dhabi’s efforts to tackle violent extremism through education programs to eradicate radicalism in prisons, to support victims of terrorism and to spread a culture of dialogue and tolerance.

According to Hon. Gennaro Migliori, it is urgent to put in place mechanisms based on the fight against corruption and extremist groups, considering that these phenomena have largely crossed borders and threaten the most fundamental human rights.
Terrorism has no religion, race or borders.

Doug Bandow hopes that lessons will be learned from the experiences of recent years and that progress will be made towards the development of new, more effective international policies based on education and alternative discourses.

Dr Magnus Norell and Dr Eva Saenz-Diez spoke of the need to reconsider educational programs, as education is an essential pillar in the fight against this scourge. They praised the experience of the United Arab Emirates, recalling the role of intellectuals in this struggle and the major contribution of HE Professor Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, through his book « The Mirage ».

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