(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said Tuesday that the media and intellectual efforts to counter "dark thought" are in disarray with a lack of coordination, noting that this role does not rise to the challenge posed by terrorism. In opening remarks at a seminar on media's role in countering terrorism, organised by the Arab League in cooperation with Petra, Momani said many countries were awaiting the outcome of such meetings as they see the pan-Arab organisation as the most capable to address the phenomenon of terror.
Stressing that "this is our war", Momani said the Internet should be used for the good of humanity, but not by terrorist organisations, adding: We have challenges with internet service providers that had a moral obligation to assist in stopping electronic support to terrorism.
"It is an ethical duty compelled by a system of values, which is countering and fighting terrorism", he told the gathering, noting that the war on terror is being waged on three fronts: militarily, currently by the international coalition, security, through the pursuit of terrorist groups, drying up their financial resources and halting the flow of fighters, and thirdly, which he considered the most important and the longest, the intellectual, cultural and media front.
The intellectual war, he said, is undertaken by the leaders of opinion, preachers and imams, who are the key elements to achieve the objects of this war, noting that His Majesty King Abdullah had sent a clear message in this context in his recent address to the UN General Assembly. He said the discussion should focus on the optimal way to reach the groups that are most vulnerable to be recruited by terrorists, noting the uphill task of defining roles in the fight against terrorism and what is needed from each of the stakeholders and referring to some "successful individual initiatives and some that need to be developed".
"We need further coordination and cooperation, the exchange of expertise and ideas, consultation on what we should offer in the next phase", he said, noting the huge role of the media in fending off "this criminal ideology and these dark forces".
Momani, who is also the official government spokesperson, said Jordan is waging a ferocious war against the "forces of evil, extremism and terrorism", adding that the challenge would grow bigger "when you are duty-bound to defend the image of tolerant Islam against the campaigns of distortion and abuse perpetrated by the terror gangs ".
He highlighted the media's key role in this regard, urging media outlets to send clear and unequivocal messages to unveil the distortion, warn against the terrorists' designs and assist various forces to stand up against them and their goals.
Momani said Jordan had adapted a media strategy focused on the religious discourse that reflects the true image of Islam and its values of tolerance, moderation, non-violence and openness to other civilisations and cultures. He mentioned the 2004 Amman Message, Common Word initiative of 2007 and World Interfaith Harmony Week, which was adopted by the United Nations in 2010.
Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Arab League Secretary General and Head of Media and Communication Department, said in remarks that terrorists were arming themselves with the media weapon to promote their objectives and aims, mislead security forces and dominate public opinion.
Petra director general Faisal Shboul told the gathering that Syria, terrorism and refugees were the three hot issues that grabbed the world attention during the deliberations of the UN General Assembly.
"This reality makes it incumbent upon all to deal firmly with these issues, top of which is the case of terrorism, which today's meeting takes place to discuss", he said.
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