With cross-border terrorism and ISIS-inspired terrorism posing a threat to peace and security, the Ulemas have a vital role to play in countering radicalisation and extremism by propagating progressive ideas and thought, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval said here on Tuesday.
Underlining these points at a dialogue between the Indonesian and Indian delegation of Ulema, Islamic scholars and leaders of other faiths, Doval said the cooperation of the civil society is essential in countering the threat from ISIS-inspired individual terror cells and returnees from theatres like Syria and Afghanistan.
The Indonesian delegation of Ulema is accompanying Mohammad Mahfud MD, coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, who is on a visit to India on the invitation of Doval who had attended the second India-Indonesia Security Dialogue on March 17 in Jakarta.
Emphasising the important role of Ulema in Islamic society, Doval said the aim of the discussion is to bring together Indian and Indonesian Ulema and scholars to promote tolerance, harmony and peaceful co-existence which will bolster the fight against violent extremism, terrorism and radicalisation.
Urging the need to develop a common narrative on deradicalisation, Doval said in a democracy there is no place for hate speech, prejudice, propaganda, demonisation, violence, conflict and misuse of religion for narrow ends.
Drawing attention towards youths who are becoming the "primary target" of radicalisation, the NSA said if their energies are nurtured in the right direction, they can become "harbingers of change" and building blocks of progress in any society.He said we also need to counter disinformation and propaganda that can "impede peaceful co-existence" among the followers of different faiths.
Doval said the essence lies in disseminating positive discourse far and wide, and not merely reacting to the agenda set by inimical forces.
While technology is a blessing for humanity, it is also being misused by anti-social elements to spread hatred and for disruptive purposes, he cautioned.
He said the Ulema must also be adept at using technology and utilizing various technological solutions to thwart propaganda and hate.
Doval said Islam had emerged as a rallying point for the disadvantaged and tolerant outlook. Fissures emerged among the caliphs after the death of the Prophet on the question of legitimate heir with each faction attempting to outdo each other by espousing a more radical interpretation of Hadiths, he said."It is here that the Ulema have a pivotal role to play.
They have a leading role in educating the people on the original tolerant and moderate principles of Islam and countering radicalisation and extremism with progressive ideas and thought," he said.
Mahfud said discussions such as this give us the opportunity to learn from each other and be inspired by the best practices in preserving a peaceful and harmonious society.
"Many a time we have witnessed people who use their religion as a doctrine of absolute truth and readily blame others. We have to go out of this and improve.
"Religion, I think should be a source of peace, not the reason for discord, conflict, or violence. Religion should be a unifying tool, not a divisive instrument," he said. He said world is facing difficult challenges, ranging from poverty, climate change, food insecurity, pandemic, corruption, unemployment, armed conflicts, income inequality, and human rights abuses to name a few.
