Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for a reform of Muslim religious discourse to combat terrorism, AFP has reported.
Sisi emphasized the importance of security and military measures, while speaking at the Future Energy Summit in Dubai. He added that any plan for fighting terrorism needed to include “a reformed religious discourse from which false ideologies that could lure some into adopting violence to impose their ideas have been removed".
The Egyptian president said the international community has to come up with a “thoughtful response” to the rise in terrorism.
At the Summit Sisi emphasized the close relationship and cooperation between the UAE and Egypt and their shared hostility towards Islamic extremists.
Sisi confirmed Egypt’s continued support for efforts by the UAE to maintain its national security. “Gulf security is a “red line” for Egypt, he said, and he urged further action to tackle attempts to weaken the security of the Gulf region.
He also referred to recent trouble in Egypt's Sinai region with hostage-taking, shootings and beheadings. "Extremism has spread in Sinai due to years of negligence," Sisi said.
He added that the country is now in a “critical” stage in its fight against terror in Sinai.
