To defeat terrorists and bring peace in Syria

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, during a recent joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir, said that Islamophobia is fuelling terrorism.

The UN head made this remark after his talks, on Friday, with the Saudi king in Riyadh on regional issues.

“One of the things that fuels terrorism is the expression in some parts of the world of Islamophobic feelings and Islamophobic policies and Islamophobic hate speeche,” Guterres said at the press conference, adding that “this is the best support that Daesh can have to make its own propaganda”.

That is wise, logical thinking, but will extreme right populist leaders listen?

The link between Islamophobia and radicalism has been established and can no longer be denied.

All parties that want to defeat the biggest perpetrator of terrorist acts, Daesh, should work in earnest to combat Islamophobia in parts of the Western world, thus depriving terrorists of a “motive” for striking at such targets.

A dual approach, one to change the mindset that believes Muslims are all terrorists and one targeting real terrorists should be done in a well-coordinated manner. 

The media appear the best tool, but there are other channels as well.

Guterres also discussed Syria with the Saudi officials. He cautioned that “we will never be successful in fighting terrorism in Syria if an inclusive political solution is not found for the Syrian people”.

Nothing new here. His Majesty King Abdullah has been saying this ever since the conflict started in this neighbouring country.

A peaceful resolution to the Syrian crisis must be an inclusive political process accepted by most sides, that grants rights, heals wounds and helps reconstruction of the country.

But for that to happen, all those responsible for the carnage and destruction in Syria must be held accountable, made to pay for their inhumane acts.

The UN secretary general may have stated the obvious, but doing so gives hope that the UN will work to reinforce the sound parameters for defeating Daesh and to settling the six-year-old Syrian conflict.