Islamic countries 'are being wrongly linked to terrorism'

Abu Dhabi: Gulf Cooperation Council countries have decided to form a permanent Counter-Terrorism Committee to help further enhance coordinated efforts in the fight against terrorism.

The decision to form the joint committee was announced in the final statement of the one-day 25th meeting of GCC Interior Ministers here yesterday.

According to the meeting's final statement, read by GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Hamad Al Attiyah, the ministers discussed cooperation and coordination in security matters as well as other issues.

The ministers, according to Al Attiyah, reiterated their countries' firm stand against terror in all its forms. The meeting held that terrorism has become a serious global crime that requires regional and international cooperation and coordination.

"That cooperation should be based on analyses that link terrorism to extremist ideologies that know no religion, nation or people," the GCC official said.

The statement criticised as irresponsible stands and statements that try to establish a link between Islam and terrorism, and provoke Muslims and hurt their sentiments.

The ministers stressed the importance of finalising a proposed move to allow GCC citizens unrestricted intra-Gulf movement. They also urged speeding up the issuance of smart cards in all GCC countries to facilitate that movement.

They also expressed concern about the possible damage to people and to the environment in the GCC countries that could result from Iranian nuclear reactors.