Educational reforms, women empowerment: Morocco's weapons against terrorism
New Delhi: Reforms in the traditional education system and empowering women are the two major agendas Morocco is following in its efforts to counter terrorism and radicalisation, a top diplomat of the North African nation has said.
"We still have the problem of dealing with the traditional education system," Assia Ben Salah Alaoui, Ambassador at large for Moroccan King Mohammed VI said in a speech on "Morocco's Security Strategy: Preventing Terrorism and Countering Extremism" organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) think tank here on Wednesday.
She said that families were being engaged to ensure that children were not radicalised at a young age.
Alaoui said that the idea that women and Islam are incompatible, just as democracy and Islam are incompatible, should be revoked. "Women business organisations are being helped in our country," she stated.
According to Aaloui, religion today has become a very minor factor in the radicalisation of people for terrorism. She said that those being targeted were from poor and malnourished backgrounds and were being paid on a monthly basis by the terrorist organisations like the Islamic State.
She said that religion still retains a role in this global menace because of people in Europe.
"These people have lost touch with their culture. They do not know religion, they don't know the origin of their culture," the Ambassador stated. "The terrorists are promising them dreams of going to paradise."
Aaloui said that in her country imams are being trained to propagate moderate Islam. "In Morocco, we have created the Foundation of African Ulema that is working hard to spread moderate Islam."
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
