Religious Leaders Important To Combat Terrorism Among Youth

From Nur Adila Abdul Wahab ASTANA (Kazakhstan), June 2 (Bernama) -- Religious leaders play an important role in countering messages of terrorist group leaders in the current world where terrorism threatens global security. United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) director Matthew Hodes said religious leaders who played an important role in educating people, especially youth, on interfaith understanding, moderation, tolerance and respect should counter the messages of terrorist group leaders who distorted the core of religious beliefs for self-serving purposes. "We need religious leaders to assert rejection of violent doctrines, emphasise the peaceful and tolerant values inherent in their theologies," he said at the XV Session of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions here Wednesday. Hodes said only religious leaders could teach the true meaning of reconciliation, understanding and mutual respect. "Young people are the prime targets of extremist rhetoric. They are attracted by messages that give them a sense of purpose and legitimacy. They drift into the clutches of terrorist organisations and cut ties with families, communities and move to countries where groups such as ISIL (or Daesh), Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram have taken root. "Some return to the countries where they were born and turn their anger on their own neighbors in the name of an ideology of hatred," he added. Hodes said the Alliance of Civilisations supported many projects that engaged religious leaders and youth on issues related to preventing terrorism, for example the youth-led organisation 'LIFE' based in Lagos, Nigeria. With the support of UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund, LIFE is training young people from the Muslim community of internally displaced persons and young people from the local community from all faiths to serve as intercultural ambassadors. "Through the work of these ambassadors, the project promotes knowledge and understanding of other faiths, as well as, greater interfaith collaboration...these young ambassadors spread messages of peace, tolerance and understanding among the communities in churches and mosques," said Hodes. He also said the Alliance of Civilisations was working closely with faith leaders and religious actors in a new project designed to counter hate speech, #SpreadNoHateInitiative. He said religious leaders were also facing the challenges of globalisation and technology, and the use of the social media and other internet-enabled communications by terrorist groups had a significant impact on youth. The XV Session of the Secretariat of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, chaired by chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Wednesday, has also set the next XVI session in Kazakhstan on Aug 9 next year. The session also unanimously decided the main theme for the VI Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions would be 'Religious Leaders for a Safe World'. -- BERNAMA