Defeating Daesh must be top priority

After carrying out deadly terror attacks in many Muslim countries in recent days, Daesh (the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) has emerged as the single biggest threat to the entire Middle East and beyond. The pattern that emerges from the recent attacks proves that they are a threat not merely to the safety and security of the citizens but also a major challenge for the unity, stability and territorial integrity of the countries of this region.

The popular uprisings of 2013 or the Arab Spring turned out to be a disaster that has destabilised many Arab countries such as Syria, Egypt and Libya. Everyone knows the fate of Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussain. A lot of death and destruction followed. The advent of Daesh a year ago has since inflicted indescribable pain and suffering on them and their nightmare does not seem to end. They have been able to make Libya a safe haven for themselves. They have threatened to dislodge Hamas and Fatah from Palestine for their supposed ‘failure in implementing Islamic rule’. They are seen to be spreading their tentacles as far as Afghanistan and are even ready to take on the Taliban. Daesh flags have been raised in rallies organised by separatists in the Indian part of Kashmir.

Therefore, defeating Daesh must be on the top of the agenda of the international community. Full military might must be unleashed towards achieving this end. But Daesh is not only a bone-chilling story about land and territory, barbarism and terrorism, it is also about ideas and beliefs. Ideology that inspires hatred and hateful propaganda that draws people into Daesh ranks cannot be fought with guns and bullets alone. It is high time that scholars and intellectuals who believe in progressive and liberal values must come forward and counter the twisted ideologies. They must challenge the ideas that are presented in the garb of religion but are actually hateful in nature. The governments across the Muslim world need to protect the schools from extremists and inculcate in the children values that make them respect the dignity of human life. It will definitely go a long way in helping defeat the scourge of Daesh.

— The reader is a procurement officer based in Abu Dhabi