National Council to Counter Terrorism holds 1st meeting Thursday

CAIRO - 24 August 2017: The National Council to Counter Terrorism and Radicalism will hold its first meeting on Thursday, headed by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and a number of public figures and officials at the presidential palace.

The meeting will discuss the state’s plan to counter terrorism by all political, intellectual and security means.

Following the sorrowful terrorist operation that targeted the safety of hundreds of civilians and security forces, President Sisi issued a declaration to establish the Council, in order to create a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism, eliminate radical thinking, and coordinate between religious institutions, like al-Azhar and the Church, and security organizations. The Council aims at spreading moderate religious discourses in the face of extremism.

One of the Council’s missions is to coordinate Arab efforts in countering terrorism, besides explaining the dangers of terrorism to the international society, in order to take decisive steps against backing-terroristic organizations.

The Anti-Terrorism Council includes President Sisi, Parliament speaker Ali Abdel Aal, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Seat of St. Mark Pope Tawadros II, several ministers, Chief Of General Intelligence, actors, poets, writers and other public figures and security officials.