Egypt’s Dar al-Iftaa will present its experience in promoting dialogue of civilizations and countering extremism, at the Global Youth Summit Against Violent Extremism Monday, Adviser of Grand Mufti Ibrahim Negm stated.
Some of Dar al-Iftaa’s efforts include founding an observatory to detect and refute fatwas issued by extremist groups, and launching a training center on means to tackle such extremist ideology, Negm said.
He added that Dar al-Iftaa has translated more than 1,000 fatwas into English and French, many of which “debunk” claims made by extremists, and issued an encyclopedia in different languages to discuss “takfirism,” the treating of non-hardline Muslims as apostates.
The New York event is expected to include more than 100 youth activists and government officials from dozens of countries, according to the website of the U.S. State Department, which co-hosts the summit. They are expected to present an action agenda based on their recommendations at the Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism, which President Barack Obama will convene Tuesday at the U.N.
Dar al-Iftaa will call on the western media to take on their “ethical responsibility in differentiating between Islam and distorted stereotyping,” Negm said.
He expressed his hope that a code of ethics and guidance standards would be laid out at the event to support dialogue and cooperation between peoples and end “hostile rhetoric against Islam.”
“In Egypt, we tackle religious extremism on the basis of our mission; the ultimate goal of all religions is to achieve world peace,” Negm said.
