The Shura Council State of Qatar

The State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, pursues a holistic approach to countering terrorism and violent extremism that is based on addressing the root causes of this phenomenon through development, justice, and respect for international law, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim has affirmed.

His Excellency highlighted that the State of Qatar has made support for education, funding of development programs, and provision of job opportunities for young people in crisis-battered zones a core priority in its efforts to counter extremist ideology.

HE Al Ghanim was speaking at the opening session of the Global Parliamentary Conference on Counter-Terrorism, hosted in Istanbul, Turkiye, with the participation of a host of speakers of parliaments, legislative councils, as well as representatives of international organizations.

The conference convenes at a critical time, as the need grows to unify efforts, strengthen international peace and security, and cooperate in confronting the scourge of terrorism that imperils societal stability and undermines development opportunities, His Excellency highlighted.

He noted that Qatar pursues a firmly rooted policy against terrorism and violent extremism, one that goes beyond mere security measures to address the economic, social, and political factors that lead to marginalization and exclusion, the very environment in which extremist ideology takes root.

Doha is preparing, as part of its efforts to support sustainable development and strengthen global parliamentary work, to host the second World Summit for Social Development in November.

The summit will feature a parliamentary forum organized in partnership between the Shura Council and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on investing in people and institutions: the role of parliamentarians in social development, His Excellency noted.

Al Ghanim further indicated that the forum will serve as a parliamentary platform to exchange experiences and best practices, and to discuss policies and legislation that bolster social development, thereby enhancing the role of parliaments in advancing communities and building human and institutional capacities.

He averred that the ongoing practices of the Israeli occupation reflect yet another face of terrorism, noting that occupation forces have committed blood-soaked massacres in the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, in an egregious breach of international law and human values.

The Israeli aggression has extended to target the State of Qatar, which is mediating and spearheading international efforts to secure a ceasefire and alleviate the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip, he said, stressing that attacking the negotiating delegation at a civilian-safe location in Doha, which houses schools and embassies, constitutes state terror and a direct threat to civilian lives, in unconscionable violation of international law and diplomatic norms.

His Excellency further added that silence in the face of such violations encourages impunity and undermines the international legal framework, noting that the arbitrary policies of the occupation not only threaten global peace and security but also help foster a fertile environment for the spread of violence and extremism, exacerbating instability across the region and the world.

HE Al Ghanim called on the international community and all parliaments to assume their moral and legal responsibilities, condemn these crimes, hold Israel accountable, and work to suspend the Israeli Knesset’s membership in regional and international parliamentary organizations until it complies with international law and the principles of legitimacy, especially following remarks by the Speaker of the Knesset in which he described the aggression as a message to the Middle East, in presumptuous defiance of the international community and parliamentary values.

The State of Qatar has placed counter-terrorism at the forefront of its foreign policy priorities through its active engagement in international coalitions, contribution to shaping global strategies, and support for development programs that address the root causes of terrorism, Al Ghanim underlined, before noting that Doha hosts the Office of Parliamentary Participation in Preventing and Combating Terrorism, in partnership with the United Nations.

This office serves as a comprehensive platform for parliaments from around the globe to coordinate international parliamentary efforts and organize conferences, seminars, and workshops that enhance legislative and oversight cooperation in this field, he outlined.

His Excellency called on national parliaments, regional parliamentary associations, and the IPU to intensify efforts and coordinate closely with the aforementioned office in support of its programs and objectives, and to activate its role in forging practical partnerships that contribute to achieving global peace and security, and in reinforcing the values of justice and respect for human rights.

Concluding his remarks, Al Ghanim hoped that the conference would yield effective outcomes in countering terrorism and violent extremism through concurrence on a comprehensive and precise international definition of terrorism, which draws a clear line between the legitimate struggle of peoples against occupation, as an inherent right, and the terrorist acts carried out by certain states and organizations.

Parliamentary unity remains the most effective means to enhance international cooperation, achieve peace and security, and safeguard the future of coming generations, His Excellency stressed.

For his part, HE Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, Numan Kurtulmus, underscored the depth of the brotherly relations and strategic cooperation between Qatar and Turkiye, lauding the Shura Council's role in combating terrorism and boosting international cooperation in this field.

Terrorism is a complex human manifestation that no country can counter individually, but requires collective action and comprehensive global coordination, Kurtulmus highlighted.

Kurtulmus called out the double standards of certain nations that claim to fight terrorism while supporting it through proxy wars. He pointed out that the most perilous form of terrorism is state terror perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people, amid the silence of the international community.

He cited Turkiye's experience in counter-terrorism, affirming that it is a model that can be shared with other nations.

The conference is organized in partnership between the Shura Council and the Doha-based UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) on Parliamentary Participation in Preventing and Combating Terrorism, in collaboration with the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

It intends to bolster the role of parliaments in supporting legislative and oversight frameworks for combating terrorism and violent extremism, and in coordinating efforts between parliaments and relevant international organizations to formulate integrated policies grounded in respect for the rule of law and human rights.

The agenda includes panel discussions addressing a wide range of issues, foremost among them the absence of a unified international definition of terrorism and its implications, the nexus between terrorism and organized crime, and the impact of occupation and armed conflicts in fueling extremism.

Additional sessions will focus on parliamentary oversight in enhancing transparency, ensuring a balance between security and the protection of rights and public freedoms, culminating in the adoption of a final statement containing practical recommendations for the development of the next UN strategy for counter-terrorism.