International Conference on Combating Terrorism and Religious Extremism Kicks Off in Damascus

DAMASCUS, (ST)-Delegations as well as political, religious, cultural and social personalities from 25 Arab and foreign countries are taking part in the International Conference on Combating terrorism and Religious Extremism which was kicked off today at the Dama Rose Hotel  in Damascus.

 The two-day conference is due to focus on topics like the International law’s stance on terrorism, terrorism and religious extremism, terrorism and national sovereignty and the illegality of the unilateral economic sanctions on Syria.

Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said at the opening ceremony that holding this conference in Syria is part of the efforts which have been exerted by the Syrian state over the past four years to combat terrorism and religious extremism.

He added that from the very beginning of the crisis, Syria has warned those who have been encouraging and financing terrorism and extremism in Syria under misleading slogans that terrorism will hit back in their countries and the world in general.

The premier pointed out that extremism is against moderation which is the core basis of the tolerant religion of Islam.

“Syria has suffered a lot from terrorism and religious extremism, which are based on takfiri thinking,” al-Halqi said, referring to the hundreds of terrorist car bomb blasts and suicide bomber attacks which claimed the lives of thousands of Syrian civilians.

Al-Halqi affirmed the Syrian government’s determination to fight terrorism wherever it is in Syria and to ensure basic needs of the steadfast Syrian people.

He stressed that the success of counter-terrorism efforts is associated with the presence of an international plan agreed upon by the international community within an UN-sponsored International conference aiming to put a unified legal identification of terrorism. 

Hamda Mustafa