Egypt’s Sisi urges new Muslim religious discourse to fight ‘terrorism’

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday said the fight against “terrorism” needs a new Muslim religious discourse in addition to security and military measures.

“The rise in terrorism... requires a thoughtful response from the international community,” said Sisi told the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

“The fight must not only be restricted to security and military aspects... but should include a reformed religious discourse from which false ideologies that could lure some into adopting violence to impose their ideas have been removed,” he said.

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates enjoy a close relationship and cooperate in various fields besides military activities.

Both governments are hostile towards Islamists and have blacklisted the Muslim Brotherhood, branding it a “terrorist” organisation.

Gulf security is “a red line” for Egypt, Sisi said, affirming his country’s unwavering support for efforts by the UAE “to preserve its national security” and urged “increased” action to “confront all attempts to breach the security of Gulf countries.”

The UAE last year jailed a group of 30 Emiratis and Egyptians for terms of three months to five years for forming a Muslim Brotherhood cell.

They were part of dozens of other Islamists jailed in the UAE since the Arab Spring uprisings erupted in 2011, even though the country itself has not seen any anti-regime movements.