Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Does the international community have real will to fight terrorism?
Published in Daily News Egypt on 18 - 11 - 2015

Does the world need more blood to teach the international community, those who govern and their voters, that humanity is exposed to a real war with extremist forces and terrorism? What happened in France is not the first incident and will not be the last. When will the global system take serious and strict steps in order to eliminate the roots of violence and their justifications, while drying up the sources of terrorism?
The blood of innocent civilians that was spilled in Paris and the blood that was spilled before that – and still is – in different parts of the world, particularly in the Arab region, is enough to jolt the international community into a phase of real alert in the face of terrorism. Unfortunately, we only currently witness insufficient denouncement and condemnation statements, mere slogans announced by presidents and diplomats on occasions of consolation, but never serious and without sincere determination to eradicate terrorism.
Terrorist organisations, responsible for the attacks in France, Tunisia, Lebanon and others, have the same roots, organisational structure, ideology and financial sources. The world is facing a huge terrorist organisation, under different names in each country; therefore, the real war on terrorism must not differentiate between one terrorist group and another in the way that we witness now. The world should also stop naming these organisations with different names, they are not extremists, insurgents or gunmen, but they are "terrorists", as the naming has dangerous and disturbing political implication.
The reality that we are living in witnesses countries and regional forces offering a safe shelter for terrorist groups and for those interested in committing, financing or planning violence in their origin countries. A number of these countries turn our lands into attacking platforms through inciting media. It is not possible to achieve success in the war on terrorism if the international community doesn't move to force these countries to stop these practices, which reinforce terrorist groups and give them reasons to live, grow, and resurge.
On the other hand, the global system is required to take more stringent legislative and procedural measures facing terrorism. It is a must to adopt a comprehensive definition, including all organisations using or inciting violence, as well as defending the perpetrators. Recognising that the system is inadequate and deficient is the right beginning to treat the apparent imbalance and cover the gaps that terrorists use to perform their acts.
We should also note that terrorism, which hit different areas in the Arab region and the world, is accompanied with political instability in the region. This situation was originally due to the world's silence facing Israeli occupation crimes and the deprivation of Palestinians from establishing their own country and restoring their stolen land. This situation has aggravated the US invaded in Iraq under the pretext of the existence of nuclear weapons, drowning the region in endless chaos. Finally, this region was plagued by the rise of some political Islamic groups reaching power, drowning the region in denominational and sectarian wars, divisions and the absence of the state, which provided the perfect incubator for violent and terrorist organisations.
The full and real confrontation of terrorism has become an urgent necessity, as it is linked to the world's ability to continue living in peace, security and tranquillity. This confrontation will remain dependant on the availability of true will in the international community to realise it.
Ayman Okeil is the General Manager of Cairo-based NGO, the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights


Clic here to read the story from its source.