Lakhmissi Bezaz, Secretary-General of the League of Scholars, Preachers, and Imams of Sahel Countries (LOPIS), has underscored the necessity of a rigorous scientific approach to dismantle hate speech. This strategy, he asserted, must move beyond mere theoretical discourse to build practical solutions that offer contemporary and convincing religious answers to young people, tailored to the specific characteristics of the Sahel region.
Sahel extremism counter-strategy
Speaking at a specialized training session for religious affairs officials in Niamey, Niger, Bezaz emphasized that safeguarding intellectual security requires confronting doubts propagated in the name of religion. He urged diligent efforts to instill values of tolerance based on sound religious principles. Bezaz highlighted LOPIS's extensive experience, having organized 19 previous sessions that addressed key factors contributing to extremism and proposed effective solutions drawn from the experiences of member states, including Algeria. He reaffirmed the League's pivotal role in fortifying a moderate religious framework.
The current session, titled "Building Intellectual Immunity and Deconstructing Extremist Discourse," is a collaborative effort between LOPIS and the Coordination and Communication Unit (UFL). Its opening ceremony was presided over by an advisor to the President of the State Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), with Algeria's Ambassador to Niger, Ahmed Saadi, also in attendance, alongside representatives from high-level security and religious bodies. This significant presence reflects the deep fraternal bonds and strategic cooperation between the two nations, particularly in coordinating religious and preventative efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.
Ibrahim Moussa Souleymane, LOPIS representative in Niger, lauded the organization of this timely session, emphasizing that the current delicate regional circumstances necessitate enhanced coordination among religious actors in Sahel countries to address ongoing security challenges.
Dr. Abu Bakr Waller Modou, Head of LOPIS, commended the substantive support for joint religious work provided by the high authorities in Algeria and Niger. He praised the considerable efforts of Nigerien President General Abdourahamane Tiani and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in laying the foundations for constructive cooperation to confront shared security threats.
For his part, Tahirou Mohamed Abdeljalil, representing the Coordination and Communication Unit (UFL), affirmed that the workshop is part of a "proactive dynamic" that strategically prioritizes prevention, dialogue, and capacity building as pillars for resilience against attempts to penetrate the social fabric.
Seydou Guibo Karimou, representative of the CNSP, congratulated LOPIS for its commendable efforts. He noted that hosting the training in Niamey signifies encouragement for Niger's fight against extremism and organized crime, acknowledging the crucial role of imams as key actors in preventative action against threats from "forces of evil" operating in the digital sphere.
Related topics: extremism, hate speech, Sahel region, religious dialogue, Algeria-Niger cooperation, intellectual security
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