BY: Sherif Abdel Ghaffar
“They don’t represent Islam!”
It is not acceptable, anymore
On July 26, 2017 Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi decreed the formation of The Supreme Council for Combating Radicalism and Terrorism. An action that some might look at with skepticism while others might hold a more optimistic outlook on the matter. In the Past, public officials of predominantly Muslim countries have tended to stick to one rhetoric when confronted by Europeans to comment on radical ideas and acts of terrorism attributed to Islamists stating: “they don’t represent Islam”. Will the formation of this new supreme council mark a strategic turning point to combat radicalism in Egypt and the Middle East? Let’s take a closer look. The Supreme council consists of 30 members according to Egypt’s official newspaper. These members are chaired by no less than the President himself, supported by his local and foreign authorities. In 2015, Egypt’s newly elected president Abdel Fattah El Sisi, said: “There are scripts and ideas that have been sanctified for hundreds of years that invoke animosity against the rest of the world; it is not therefore conceivable that 1.6 bn Muslims should kill the rest ofthe 7 billion world population to thrive, I am affirming this in front of Al-Azhar University clerics (the most recognised Islamic University in the world). You need to come out and address the bigger picture, I am therefore calling for a rebellion against radicalism”. Among the members of the supreme council is the Egyptian parliament spokesman, the Prime Minister, Head of Al- Azhar, the Pope of Alexandria, the Ministers of Defense, Youth and Sports, Religious Affairs, Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Interior Affairs, Communications and Information Technology, Justice, Education, Higher Education, Chief of Intelligence and Director of Administrative Supervision. In addition to members already holding their previous positions, 13 new public figures have been appointed. Among the 13 appointed members is Mohamed Sobhi, an Egyptian comedian/satiric actor who advocates the use of art to portray societal morals. Other members include: Dr. Ahmed Okasha, Head of the Egyptian Society of Psychiatrists and a member of the UNESCO executive board, Sociology Prof. Hoda Labib, Zakazik University, a Specialist in Socio-Religious Development, Khalid Okasha, author of “Blood Princes”; a book that addresses how Islamic terrorism began, Abdel Monem Said, former Head of Ahram Center for Strategic Studies and Associate researcher at Brookings Think Tank in Washington, and Mohamed Ragaei Atteia, a prominent lawyer and member of the Islamic Research Center. The newly formed council will be devising a comprehensive strategy to confront radicalism and terrorism; both foreign and local; as well as implement policies, plans and programmes for the Republic of Egypt to operate and coordinate within a specific time frame for this purpose. This scope will include local and international legislative amendments, regional coordination, educational amendments to advocate non-discrimination and co-existence, the monitoring and confiscation of terrorism funds, by advocating peaceful religious speech and integrating plans for economic growth for clusters driven by religious radicalism. Radicalism and terrorism as we all came to understand is no longer just a Middle Eastern problem. Europe is currently paying a heavy price in death tolls of innocent citizens to this phenomenon. Therefore, European governments should try to benefit from this shift of strategy in Egypt. They could help by providing technology, funds, or human resources. Let’s embrace this initiative, it is time for the world to unite against evil.
