Counter-terrorism, extremism draft endorsed

The working team of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) in charge of studying the Union Charter to combat terrorism and extremism, endorsed the draft on counter-terrorism and extremism charter, at a closing meeting held on Monday at Abu Dhabi Towers.

The members of the UAE Parliamentary Division of the Federal National Council attended the meeting.

Prof Mahmud Erol Kilic, Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), members of the Executive Committee, representatives of the parliaments of Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran, Turkey, Chad, Uganda, Guinea and the UAE were also present.

The proposal presented by the UAE Parliamentary Division regarding the draft of the Islamic Parliamentary Union Charter to combat terrorism and extremism in the Member States of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC, was unanimously agreed upon, following the two-day long discussions.

The Preamble of the Charter refers to the growing terrorism in certain regions of the world, and calls for the issuance of this Charter, which expresses concern about the threat posed by terrorism and extremism to the Islamic countries' stability, security and territorial integrity, as well as the rest of the world, especially after escalation of the terrorist acts which threaten international peace, security, as well as values of co-existence among human societies.

It underscores that terrorism cannot be justified under any name or pretext.

It is a duty of all countries to condemn all forms and manifestations of terrorism, regardless of its origin or cause or purpose.

The preamble notes that the absence of justice, lack of fairness in solving regional and international conflicts and duplication of international legitimacy, selective application of the principles of law, pursuit of forceful methods and arrogance in international relations, are among the causes of terrorism as these have created hotbeds of tension and violence and contributed to fuelling extremism and terrorism.

"There is no way to promote international peace and security, except through realisation of justice in international relations and standardising the application of international law, as well as heeding repetitive calls for the UN's reform," the preamble of the charter says.

The provisions of the charter in their entirety condemn and absolutely reject any terrorist acts aimed at disturbing public order, violating freedoms and human dignity and endangering the security of communities in accordance with the convention of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference on Combating International Terrorism and related international agreements and treaties.

The charter stresses the commitment to provide all kinds of support and assistance to victims of terrorist acts, giving them necessary protection and compensation for the damage they incur.

It also stresses the importance of the obligation incumbent upon all parties to take bilateral and multilateral measures to ensure that they do not initiate or participate in any way in financing or incitement or support of terrorist acts directly or indirectly, including the supply of weapons to terrorists, or help them possess or store weapons, and not to give them travel documents.

The preamble says that no member state should allow its territory to be used as a launch-pad for terrorist acts or participate in them in any way.

All member states should take joint measures to prevent infiltration or transit of terrorists and refrain from granting them asylum or receiving, harbouring, training, or arming them or providing any facilities to terrorists to carry out terrorist acts in the territory of another party. Wam

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