Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Muslim, Christian Youth Meet in Cairo to Discuss Combating Extremist Rhetoric | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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13 SEP 2015. CAIRO, EGYPT. REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH


Cairo – Representatives from 15 Arab, European and African states will convene in Cairo this week to speak against extremist religious rhetoric and spread awareness among the youth on the dangers of extremism.

The first gathering of Muslim and Christian youth will be held in the Egyptian capital on August 18-22 under the name of “Youth Engagement, Religion and Violence”.

The seminar is an interfaith initiative jointly organized by the Egyptian Muslim Centre Al Azhar (mosque and university), and the World Council of Churches.

The seminar will have inputs by Muslim and Christian theologians and political analysts, with special attention and space being given to the experiences of the participants themselves.

The seminar will address topics linked to religion and violence including, religion, spirituality and politics, citizenship (religious, ethnic and national identities), religious rhetoric and violence, youth and religious extremism, role of religious institutions in peace building, as well as youth engagement in social justice and peace building.

The event’s general coordinator, Ayman Nasri, told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that the youth population was witnessing many violent incidents around the world, including the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America.

He added that ISIS terrorist group was maneuvering to recruit extremist people to act as lone wolves in countries around the world. He also noted that ISIS has led my young people to commit terrorist attacks, through intensive brainwashing.

Nasri also said that ISIS was seeking to propagate in Western countries a new generation of youth with extremist ideologies.

He noted that the gathering aims at clarifying the principles of Islam and unifying efforts to face the spread of extremist thinking on social media outlets.