Ali: Sufism best suited to confront terrorism, Europe made mistake by accepting Salafism

Abdelrehim Ali, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Bawaba News and a member of Egypt’s Parliament, said that Europe made a big mistake by opening its arms to the Madkhali Salafism that originated in Saudi Arabia and which Europe saw suitable.

Ali noted during his speech at the Bawaba News symposium on combating terrorism that the danger in adopting the Salafist trend is that despite its protection of political power, it undermines the basic social rules upon which societies are based, especially with regard to citizenship, education and women's rights.

“Sufism is best suited to confront extremism and terrorism, because it carries a sophisticated ideology and also provides real lessons in tolerance and building states and societies.”

The seminar, which was held at the headquarters of al-Bawaba News Institute, aimed at raising awareness among youth about the dangers of terrorism and extremism and means of fighting them.

It also aimed to throw light on the effects these dangerous phenomena have on Arab societies.

Those speaking in the seminar wanted to drive the message home that the intellectual elite can play a role in the fight against terrorism.

This elite, they said, is responsible for promoting moderate thinking and increasing the awareness of the members of the public.

Participating in the seminar was UAE Acting Ambassador in Egypt, Mariam Khalifa al-Kaabi, and Egypt's former foreign minister, Mohamed al-Orabi.

A large number of cultural figures and researchers in the fields of terrorism and extremism also participated in the seminar along with a host of Arab officials.