Agencies
Kuwait City
Kuwait’s emir said yesterday sectarian strife was the most serious threat facing Muslims and called for immediate action to tackle it.
Speaking at the opening session of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah said Muslim countries must work together to confront terrorism. His remarks were echoed by Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister.
“We must take a serious stand on the sectarian malady that has been shaking the structure of our nation and fragments it,” the emir told foreign ministers and representatives from the 57-member OIC at its annual meeting.
“This fanaticism is the most dangerous to the existence of our nation ... We are all losers in this conflict, and the winner is the one who wants to inflame this destructive strife for their own objectives ...”
“We are required to intensify efforts with the world to combat terrorism being waged by terrorist organisations,” Sheikh Sabah said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir echoed Sheikh Sabah’s call.
“We are all eager to confront the threats that face the Islamic nation, foremost among them the phenomenon of terrorism, violence, extremism and sectarianism, which have wrought deep damage in the Islamic nation,” Jubeir said.
Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are among countries attending the conference, which is expected to see the OIC approve an “effective strategy to combat terrorism, violent extremism and Islamophobia”, the organisation said.
The strategy will focus on Islamic world responses to the root causes of “terrorism”, including poverty, underdevelopment, unresolved conflicts and sectarianism, the OIC said in a statement.
Sheikh Sabah defended the Saudi-led air strikes against Yemen’s Shia Houthi rebels and their allies after they “threatened our security and stability and captured power by force”.