Sudan to host Arab forum on combating terrorism on Thursday
August 14, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese capital, Khartoum will host on Thursday the Arab Forum for Combating Terrorism (Role of the Arab Media in Combating Terrorism) which is jointly organized by the Arab League and Sudan’s Information Ministry.
He added that the forum would be held in three of the Arab capitals, pointing to Sudan’s rich experience in fighting against extremism and terrorism.
Bilal pointed that the forum would be based on the Islamic-Arab strategy to fight against the phenomenon of terrorism, saying that Islam is a religion of peace and respect for human life.
The Sudanese minister further mentioned several reasons behind the emergence of the phenomenon of extremism and terrorism, saying the forum seeks to achieve a unified vision to fight against these phenomena.
He said that Sudan is among the countries with least numbers of youths who joined the extremist groups’ camps, saying however the government is not satisfied with the current situation and would continue to protect the youths intellectually via the various means in order not to join these groups.
Last year, Sudan’s interior ministry said that about 70 Sudanese, of both sexes have joint the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and Libya.
Bilal underscored completion of all arrangements to hold the forum on Thursday, saying it would discuss three working papers besides holding a symposium.
He added that the opening session will be addressed by the First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih, and the Arab League’s Secretary General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Islamic thinker Fahmi Huwaidi said he declined to accept an invitation extended to him by the Sudanese embassy in Cairo to attend the forum, expressing resentment over what he called “State Terrorism” which became the basis of actions of undemocratic regimes.
In an article published by the Egyptian-based Al Shorouk newspaper Saturday, he said the Sudanese authorities continued crackdown on press, pointing to mass confiscation of newspapers and attacks against journalists.
“Hence it was not surprising that Sudan ranked 174th out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index” he said.
(ST)