Arab Parliament calls for reconsidering Arab terror combat pact

CAIRO – 5 July 2017: The Arab Parliament called Wednesday for an urgent review of the Arab convention on combating terrorism by the councils of justice and interior ministries, in light of the developments in the Arab world.

The Arab parliament issued a statement regarding the latest development in the Arab national security, at the end of its sixth and final meeting of the first session of the second legislative term, urging the need to boost cooperation in combating terrorism through the convention with strengthening the mechanisms of international and Arab cooperation in this regard.

The parliament explained that the convention provides the legal basis for effective Arab cooperation to combat terrorism at all levels.

It also provides agreed provisions on terror crimes and foundations for Arab cooperation to combat extremism and terrorism in the security and judicial fields, the statement added.

The statement pointed out that terrorism spread in many countries of the world and threatened the economy and social lives of peoples.

Therefore, the war must not focus only on the military and security aspects, but also on renewing religious discourse, developing education, the press, social media and culture, spreading moderate ideology and organizing the role of the family, school, university, clubs, youth centers, the mosque and the church, the statement explained.

The statement pointed out that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory for more than seven decades in all its brutal practices and racial discrimination against the Palestinian people has planted the seeds of violence in the Arab world.

However, the 2011 Arab Spring has resulted in more chaos and the collapse of institutions in a number of Arab countries, which in turn created a suitable environment to the spread of terrorism and its destructive ideology throughout the Arab world.

The statement noted that it has been made clear during the Arab Islamic American Summit held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, that a terrorist is not only the one who carries arms, but also who funds, trains, arm, shelter, and provide all political and media support to terrorism.