Legislative, military & intellectual efforts to combat international terrorism
Terrorism is not a new phenomenon as it has evolved as human
societies grew. Its reasons have been various across the world as terrorist
operations have not been confined to a certain geographic territory, whether
rich or poor, the phenomenon has expanded, while international efforts – on the
legislative, military and intellectual levels -- have been on the rise to
uproot it.
The 1st perspective: International legislative efforts to combat terrorism
UN carries out a global strategy to combat terrorism
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism was established through the adoption of General Assembly resolution 71/291 on 15 June 2017. Mr. Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov was appointed as Under-Secretary-General of the Office on 21 June 2017.
The new Under-Secretary-General will provide strategic leadership to United Nations counter-terrorism efforts, participate in the decision-making process of the United Nations and ensure that the cross-cutting origins and impact of terrorism are reflected in the work of the United Nations.
The Office of Counter-Terrorism has five main functions:
- It provides leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to the Secretary-General from across the United Nations system.
- It enhances coordination and coherence across the 38 Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
- It strengthens the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to member states.
- It improves visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts.
- It ensures that due priority is given to counterterrorism across the United Nations system and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the strategy.
The Office will aim to have a close relationship with Security Council bodies and member states, strengthening existing and developing new partnerships through regular travel and attendance at counter-terrorism-related meetings.
The United Nations has massively consolidated international efforts to combat global terrorism in a bid to ensure international peace and security.
It has taken a raft of measures to assist member states to combat terrorism across the world via the implementation of the international strategy which stresses the UN's strong commitment to strengthen international cooperation and coordination to combat terrorism.
A number of resolutions were taken in 2017 as follows:
February 6, 2017: ISIS is in a defensive position militarily as its financial revenues from oil fell, while its ability to recruit new members has weakened.
June 15, 2017: The adoption of a resolution to establish a UN counter-terrorism office.
July 20, 2017: The adoption of Resolution 2368, which asserts that terrorism, in all its forms, is one of the most serious threats to peace and security. It considers terrorist action as a crime that cannot be justified regardless of the motives.
July 20, 2017: A report has revealed measures taken to freeze assets and set a ban on travel and arms. The measures targeted individuals and groups as part of sanctions against ISIS and al-Qaeda.
August 2, 2017: The adoption of a resolution which prevents terrorists from getting arms, including support of any sort, whether direct or indirect, to individuals or groups involved in terrorist actions.
September 21, 2017: The adoption of Resolution 2379 on the accountability of ISIS for its crimes in Iraq.
The US Counterterrorism Bureau
In 2017, the US Counterterrorism Bureau led the State Department’s diplomatic efforts to defeat ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah by strengthening bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism partnerships, building the capacity of frontline states, improving information sharing.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2396, which provides member states new tools to detect and counter foreign terrorist fighters and homegrown terrorists.
The United States drafted and led the negotiation of the resolution, which requires all UN members to use Passenger Name Record data to stop terrorist travel. It further directs UN members to collect biometric data and develop watchlists of known and suspected terrorists and to share counterterrorism information.
The State Department announced 37 other terrorism designations in 2017, including ISIS and Hezbollah leaders.
The State Department also launched two important new initiatives under the auspices of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). The State Department and the Netherlands in November kicked off the Initiative on Addressing the Challenge of Returning Families of Foreign Terrorist Fighters, which will focus on the challenges presented by ISIS fighters and their families coming home from the war zone.
In mid-November it also launched with Morocco the Initiative to Address Homegrown Terrorism. In a series of workshops over 2018, both initiatives will produce new non-binding good practices for policymakers, civil society, law enforcement, and other key stakeholders.
A total of 365 courses, workshops, and technical consultations for participants from 41 countries were held.
European legislations for combating terrorism
The European Parliament plays key role in combating terrorism
The European Parliament has taken numerous steps to combat terrorism on the back of rising terrorist attacks on European cities, i.e. Paris, Brussels, London and Berlin.
On the legislative level, the members of the European Parliament passed by 527 votes in favor of 73 votes, 36 votes the first specialized counterterrorism committee comprising 30 European MPs.
The committee will last for a renewable year. The first priority of this committee is to address the practical and legislative shortcomings in the war on terror in each EU member state. It also assesses the terrorist threat to Europe and follows up any defect that could lead to any terrorist operation.
Many European countries have also been amenable to terrorist attacks in recent years. The attacks have prompted the adoption of a number of legislations to take a serious action. These legislations enable the European security authorities and agencies to prosecute terrorists and impose sanctions, in addition to the monitoring of funding channels.
France
The French legislations have been the most prominent on the European level. France has taken numerous legislative measures, internally and externally, to combat terrorism.
For example, it influenced the Security Council to issue a number of resolutions to combat terrorism. France has been an active member of the European Union in combating terrorism.
It submitted a plan to the European Commission in February 2017. The plan is mainly aimed at combating terrorism, tracing local funding channels as well as combating money laundering.
The French Ministry of Finance has toughened control on some Syrian and Iraqi organizations.
In October 2017, France's National Assembly adopted the Terrorism Act, which was described by the French President confirmed as in line with French principles and values.
Britain
In 2011, Britain issued the terrorism act, which empowers the authorities to restrict individuals who are suspects and may pose a threat to the national security.
Britain was one of the first European countries that issued an emergency law in 2004.
Belgium
Following the terrorist attacks on France, Belgium issued a new anti-terrorism law, which allowed the security authorities to collect and use private data information.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria's parliament issued in 2016 a law authorizing the Bulgarian president to declare a state of emergency, ban any rallies or demonstrations.
Poland
Poland adopted an anti-terrorism act in June 2016. The law has enhanced the powers of the government and extended detention periods.
Hungary
Hungary has also adopted new laws for restrictions on freedom of movement and freezing of funds for suspects. The constitutional amendments made it possible to declare a terrorist threat and take any necessary countermeasures.
Arab League
The Arab League is stepping up efforts to safeguard the security and stability of the Arab countries. The Arab League has intensified efforts in line with the international conventions and agreements. The Arab League has taken a number of measures in this regard.
In November 2017, Arab justice ministers called on Arab countries to ratify an Arab joint agreement to combat terrorism.
In March 2018, Egypt called for the inclusion of a draft resolution on the development of the anti-terrorism system. The Arab League adopted a resolution to set up a database on terrorism and terrorist organizations.
Egypt
The repercussions of the 2011 turmoil have stressed to focus on terrorism laws. Egypt has seriously handled with the laws tackling terrorism as in Article 234 of Egypt's Constitution.
Egypt has suffered from a wide range of attacks in addition to various forms of terrorism and extremism, ushering in security, legislative and military measures to counter terrorism to maintain stability.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has established a national council to combat extremism and terrorism.
Moreover, Egypt has adopted a comprehensive national strategy to combat terrorism internally and externally.
The Egyptian government has boosted cooperation with all religious, security and media institutions to promote moderate religious discourse.
It also has provided programs to raise the awareness of citizens.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates has played a key role in combating terrorism via the issuance of numerous laws. It also hosted many regional and international conferences and forums to combat terrorism.
The UAE was a member of the international alliance to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq. It is also a member of the Arab coalition.
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has said that his country "is in contact with partners to fight terrorism and combat extremist ideologies".
UAE has adopted a number of bills and measures in this regard
- International Judicial Cooperation Act in 2006.
- Formation of the National Committee for Combating Terrorism in 2009.
- The Anti-Terrorist Crimes Act in 2014.
- The Council of Muslim Elders in 2014.
- The law against money laundering and the funding of terrorism. A unit was launched by the Central Bank to counter money laundering and suspicious schemes.
In a new step towards the fight against terrorism, the United Arab Emirates has issued a new law to develop the legislative structure to strengthen counter-terrorism, support and finance terrorist organizations in line with international standards to be more monitoring, monitoring and effective. The decision issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan states: "Any person shall disclose, when he enters or exits the State, negotiable currencies or instruments, precious metals or precious stones,
In a new move to combat terrorism, the UAE has issued a new bill to toughen control in a bid to combat terrorism.
Bahrain
On May 17, 2017, Bahrain hosted the Regional Workshop on "the Role of Legislative Authorities in Combating Terrorism".
The workshop came up with 28 recommendations to be adopted by the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights of the Arab League.
The recommendations include:
- Intensifying penalties for terrorist crimes.
- Launching a database among Arab councils.
- Strengthen the role of media.
- Organizing joint events.
- Studying the political, intellectual and social factors that lead Arab youth to join these terrorist organizations.
- Strengthening international cooperation and coordination to combat terrorism.
- The signing of international conventions and agreements to rein in electronic terrorist crimes.
- Strengthening the role of education.
- Fighting intellectual deviation.
- Promoting a culture of tolerance and peaceful dialogue.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia toughened its anti-terrorism law in 2014 and 2017. In February 2014, the Saudi government issued a royal decree to sentence any citizen fighting abroad for 3-20 years in jail. In 2017, the Saudi authorities widened the scope of the law.
The 2nd perspective: Military & strategic efforts
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
OSCE member countries agree that terrorism is one of the fundamental threats to peace, security and stability. These countries reject to associate terrorism with any race, or nationality, or religion. Therefore it applies effective measures to prevent and combat terrorism in all of its forms.
OSCE is contributing to the international efforts to combat terrorism led by the United Nations. These efforts are guided by the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.
OSCE scope of operations
- Boosting the international legal framework against terrorism and strengthening the global legal cooperation in criminal matters related to terrorism.
- Combating violent extremism which leads to terrorism.
- Preventing the funding of terrorism
- Combating the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes
- Enhancing dialogue and cooperation on counterterrorism issues.
- Strengthening national efforts to implement Security Council resolution 1540/2004 on the nonproliferation of arms of mass destruction.
- Enhancing the security of travel documents.
Global Coalition against International Terrorism
Seventy-four countries formed of the Global Coalition against International Terrorism and pledged to confront ISIS. The objective was to weaken terrorist organizations. and prevent the flow of takfiris across borders.
Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition
By late 2015 the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition was launched to confront terrorism and its hazards on the intellectual, cultural and security levels.
The 41-nation Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition aims to unify the efforts of Islamic countries against terrorism. In March 2016, the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCT) held its first meeting in Riyadh.
The participating countries stressed the need to intensify efforts to combat terrorism through capacity building and implementation of programs and initiatives.
On November 26, 2017, Riyadh hosted the first meeting of the IMCT defense ministers to lay out the general strategy of the alliance, covering at all levels of military, intellectual and communicational aspects to combat terrorism.
In general, the Riyadh-based IMCT is seeking to achieve its objectives via focusing on four levels: military, intellectual, media, and combating the funding of terrorist groups.
Arab military efforts
Iraq
The Iraqi forces comprising security, military, tribal and popular mobilization, carry out daily operations against extremist and terrorist organizations. These forces kill many of terrorists, especially at the Syrian border.
The Iraqi forces applied a number of methods to combat terrorism as follows:
- Boosting the Iraqi intelligence activity.
- Deterrence and control policies.
- Complete military control over Iraqi territories.
- Enhancing the counter-media discourse.
- Increasing community awareness of the dangers of terrorism and its repercussion.
- Boosting political and social governance.
- Strengthening Iraq's economy.
Syria
The Syrian intelligence service has provided all the information required for operations of the Syrian Arab army in combating extremism and terrorism on Syrian territories.
Most international intelligence and security agencies look forward to benefit from the experience of the Syrian intelligence service, which has gathered huge information about terrorist groups.
The Syrian intelligence service has also banked on numerous instruments and basically focused on the effectiveness of the human element, which has outperformed technological tools.
The 3rd perspective: Intellectual efforts against terrorism
Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia exert massive efforts in combating terrorism
When we talk about the Arab efforts, particularly the intellectual, to confront extremism and terrorism, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia emerge as the most distinguished. These countries have shouldered the responsibility of combating terrorism via more effective methods to tackle intellectual attractions used by terrorist groups to recruit Arab young people.
The governments of these countries have launched specialized centers to well observe and analyze the discourse contents of the takfiri groups. Egypt's Al-Azhar Observatory, funded by the UAE, the Emirates Center in the UAE and the Saudi Etidal Center are intensifying efforts to combat terrorism. The governments also opened training centers to teach preachers the ways to release fatwas (religious edicts based on sharia) and how to confront extremist misinterpretations of Islam.
Egypt
The Al-Azhar is a well-established religious institution that has played a key role in the intellectual confrontation of terrorism. It has held many forums and conferences, and launched campaigns to support and integrate the Arab, regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.
The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has held its 28th conference, which highlighted the need to renounce violence and uproot extremism and terrorism. It stressed the need to promote moderate Islam.
Moreover, Al-Azhar has lauded the Egyptian efforts, particularly in combating global and regional terrorism.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has called for major religious reforms. Under his leadership, the Egyptian government has urged for changes in the three main religious institutions in Egypt: Dar Al-Iftaa, the Ministry of Waqfs (Religious Endowments) and Al-Azhar University.
UAE
It is essential to mention UAE's overall strategy to develop not only a legal structure to combat terrorism, but also to methods that ensure the educational institutions adopt moderate Islam. The objective is to promote the principles of tolerance, dialogue and moderation.
In 2013, the United Arab Emirates founded Hedayah Center to combat extremism. The center has conducted in-depth research and analysis covering all aspects of violent extremism.
Through the center, the UAE has launched capacity-building programs to improve dialogue and enhance community communication.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has been seeking means to confront terrorism not only on the security level, but also tackling intellectual extremism in a bid to promote moderate Islam, especially among the youth.
Saudi Arabia has founded Mohamed Bin Naif Center for Counseling and Care to counter radical ideology and misinterpretation of Islam.
Tunisia
The Tunisian government has launched talks with the European Union to enhance security coordination and cooperation to combat terrorism and eradicate its roots.
Conclusion
Terrorism has become a serious phenomenon on the back of fast-growing terrorist operations, which pose a serious threat to regional, national and international security.
Meanwhile, international efforts are intensifying to combat and eradicate terrorism. Perhaps the lack of a precise and unified definition of terrorism has been an obstacle to facing this phenomenon effectively.
The phenomenon of terrorism, which has become transnational, cannot be confronted without coordination and cooperation worldwide.
However, it is highly needed to intensify efforts in a more organized and integrated way to confront extremism and international terrorism everywhere. That requires the support of all countries and international organizations for more efforts on the legislative, military and intellectual levels.
Recommendations:
- Arab, regional and international efforts should be intensified to set a more accurate and comprehensive definition of the term terrorism.
- Nonstop and hard work to build up people and their capabilities in an aware manner. That will be the first step for combating extremism and terrorism.
- Greater attention should be given to religious and educational institutions as well as civil society organizations to be a fundamental partner in combating terrorism.
- research centers should be encouraged to carry out special projects to combat terrorism and extremism.
