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Islam is a religion of peace and denounces terror: UAE

Abu Dhabi - Sheikh Abdullah said terrorism and extremism are severely damaging Muslim countries and their civilisational legacy.

Muslim countries need an effective mechanism to fight terrorism and extremism. They should also combat hate speech, said Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Sheikh Abdullah called on member states to stop "direct or indirect support to entities or individuals involved in terrorism and extremism, or providing safe shelter, and harbouring, financing or assisting them" in his speech at the 46th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit.
While reiterating the OIC's support for Palestinian's aspirations for an independent state, Sheikh Abdullah said terrorism and extremism are severely damaging Muslim countries and their civilisational legacy.
Development is also being pegged back by violent ideologies.
"Islam is a religion of tolerance, peace and safety which denounces extremism and terrorism and calls for sincere work in the service of our countries."
The spread of radical ideology and terrorism should be dealt with effectively through awareness and government action, the UAE foreign minister said in his speech.
He said people who promote terror have lost human values and act under the cloak of religion while interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.
The foreign minister also called on Iran to "reconsider its polices with regard to building friendly relations with its neighbours based on non-interference in internal affairs. "Iran should stop its efforts to destabilise the region by spreading chaos and fuelling sectarian disputes," said the minister.
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