NAM rejects use of force against member states under pretext of fighting terrorism

New York (ST) – The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) affirmed that it rejects the use of force by any state against any NAM member country under the pretext of combating terrorism.

 Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Zahra Ershadi said during the Sixth Committee of the United Nations: ” The NAM unequivocally rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, including those in which soem countries are directly or indirectly involved, and which are unjustifiable whatever the considerations or factors that may be invoked to justify them”.

” Such acts endanger the territorial integrity and stability of States as well as national, regional and international security, destabilize legitimately constituted governments or the prevailing constitutional order and political unity of States, create adverse consequences on economic and social development while also leading to the destruction of the physical and economic infrastructure of States”, she added.

The statement stressed that terrorism should not be equated with the legitimate struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation, for self-determination and national liberation.

“The brutalization of peoples remaining under foreign occupation should continue to be denounced as the gravest form of terrorism”, it added.

The statement affirmed that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, and these attributions should not be used to justify terrorism or counter-terrorism measures that include, inter alia, profiling of terror suspects and intrusion on individual privacy. 

The statement indicated that terrorist discourses must be dealt with effectively, through a comprehensive and international framework, in an effective manner, with the aim of addressing all its root causes, including through the participation of community leaders and clerics from all sects.

Najla Khoury