Islamic Countries Require Legislation To Combat Terrorism, Extremism: Amal Al Qubaisi

Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, FNC, stated that the repercussions of terrorism and extremism require the parliaments of Islamic countries to enact legislation that is not limited to combatting these threats, but also to reject instigation and hatred and criminalise racial discrimination

RABAT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 14th Mar, 2019) Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, FNC, stated that the repercussions of terrorism and extremism require the parliaments of Islamic countries to enact legislation that is not limited to combatting these threats, but also to reject instigation and hatred and criminalise racial discrimination.

She added that Islamic countries must spread the values of tolerance and coexistence and establish the culture of dialogue and acceptance among the youth of the Islamic world.

In her speech during the general session of the 14th edition of the "Conference of the Union of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC," which was held in Morocco, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, Dr. Al Qubaisi stressed that the UAE’s right and sovereignty over its three Iranian-occupied islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa will remain an absolute priority while asserting its keenness to end the occupation through a peaceful settlement, and expressing its deep concern regarding Iran’s interferences in the internal affairs of Arab countries.

"We are concerned about the worsening situation faced by the Palestinian people, and we aim to strengthen our solidarity, cooperation and unity, as well as Islamic solidarity, to support the rights of Palestinians and reach a comprehensive and permanent solution to the crisis, which is a leading source of instability in the middle East," she added while affirming the UAE’s historic support for the rights of Palestinians to establish their independent country, with its capital in East Jerusalem, according to United Nations, UN, resolutions and the "Arab Peace Initiative."

"We hope that Iran responds to the outcomes of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which was issued during the meeting of ministers of foreign affairs and heads of delegations of OIC member states at the end of the 46th OIC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Council, as well to the invitation of OIC member states regarding the UAE’s invitation to reach a peaceful solution and end Iran’s occupation of the three Emirati islands, through dialogue and direct negotiations or international arbitration," she further added.

"We invite Iran to review its policies, not interfere in the affairs of other countries and respect their sovereignty.

We also highlight the importance of the OIC Charter," she further said while affirming the UAE’s commitment to achieving development and supporting international security and stability, and noting that it has provided humanitarian and development aid worth over US$32 billion Dollars over the past five years.

"We are also keen to continue supporting the international efforts to combat and reject all forms of terrorism and extremism, and we are calling on the international community to sternly deal with organisations and countries that support, host or fund terrorist leaders and provide them with media platforms or safe havens," she further stressed while explaining that the repercussions of terrorism and extremism are not limited to human casualties, but also include other negative consequences, such as the distortion of the Islamic religion, and that financial losses caused by terrorism in 2016 reached $84 billion.

Dr. Al Qubaisi further stressed that facing a complex challenge such as terrorism requires combined efforts and unorthodox solutions while noting the UAE’s efforts to spread tolerance and coexistence, as per the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declaring 2019 as the Year of Tolerance, which will witness the launch of a relevant international initiative and the formation of a higher national committee, with the aim of enhancing the UAE’s efforts to spread tolerance and coexistence around the world, sponsored by the Ministry of Tolerance and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance.

Al Qubaisi further said that during the start of the Year of Tolerance, the UAE hosted two humanitarian figures and religious symbols, Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Head the Catholic Church, who signed the "Document of Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" during their joint visit.

She then called on the conference to issue a concluding statement that will affirm the importance of the document, which is an overall roadmap to a tolerant, safer and more stable world, as well as a platform for combatting extremism and terrorism, reviving traditional religious values, and regaining the family’s role as the vital nucleus of building communities and countries.