On Tuesday (January 18), the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti, referred to as for the popularity of hatred and bias towards religions corresponding to Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. He made the remarks through the International Counter-Terrorism Conference 2022, which was organised by the Global Counter-Terrorism Council of the United Nations.
In his assertion, TS Tirumurti identified how phobias towards three Abrahamic religions, specifically, Islam, Christianity and Judaism was recognised by the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy however the emergence of religiophobia towards Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs shouldn’t be being absolutely recognised.
#IndiaFlagsHinduphobiaIndia’s Ambassador T. S. Tirumurti raised the problem of ‘Hinduphobia’at the UN discussion board; raised consciousness about Hindu hatred that’s rising internationally.Mohit with evaluation.#UN #India pic.twitter.com/NW1vAtwR50— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 20, 2022
He acknowledged, “The UN has highlighted some of them over the years, namely, those based on Islamophobia, Christianophobia and antisemitism – the three Abrahamic religions. These three find mention in the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. But new phobias, hatred or bias against other major religions of the world need to also be fully recognised.”
“The emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh phobias is a matter of serious concern and needs the attention of the UN and all Member States to address this threat. It is only then can we bring greater balance into our discussion on such topics”, the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations added.
India spoke out towards blatant categorisation of terrorism
TS Tirumurti emphasised how a number of UN member States had tried to place labels on acts of terrorism, based mostly on political and spiritual motivations. “In the past two years, several member states, driven by their political, religious and other motivations, have been trying to label terrorism into categories such as racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism, violent nationalism, right-wing extremism, etc,” he mentioned.
The Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations identified that it was towards the accepted ideas of the UN’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. He added as to how there can’t be a justification of terrorism based mostly on its kind and manifestation and acknowledged that each one types of terrorism are condemnable.”This will take us again to the pre 9/11 period of labelling terrorists as “Your Terrorists” and “My Terrorists” and erase the collective beneficial properties we’ve made during the last twenty years…”
Furthermore, he acknowledged, “We, therefore, need to be wary of providing a variety of classifications, which may militate against the concept of democracy itself. Fourth, even such labels are being given to so-called threats which are limited to certain national or regional contexts. The extrapolation of such national or regional narratives into a global narrative is misleading and erroneous. Such trends are neither global nor have any agreed global definition.”
Weaponisation of communication expertise for terrorist propaganda
During his assertion on the International Counter-Terrorism Conference 2022, the Indian Representative highlighted how data and communication expertise was being weaponised for terrorist propaganda. “Misuse of information and communication technology such as internet and social media for terrorist propaganda, radicalization and recruitment of cadre, misuse of new payment methods and crowdfunding platforms for the financing of terrorism, and misuse of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes have emerged as the most serious threats of terrorism and will decide the counter-terrorism paradigm going forward.”
TS Tirumurti mentioned, “Internet and social media platforms have turned into indispensable resources in the toolkit of Global Terrorist Groups (GTGs) for spreading terrorist propaganda and conspiracy theories aimed at spreading hatred among societies and communities and offer additional radicalization opportunities which may proliferate globally. The increased use of closed group communications adds to the concern. Covid-19 and the subsequent isolation has further accentuated the impact of the internet on people making them vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups.”
Full transcript of the assertion by TS Tirumurti
I thank the Global Counter-Terrorism Council (GCTC) for inviting me to this International Counter-Terrorism Conference 2022 and offering the chance to share my ideas on counter-terrorism and the UN. I want to make clear that I converse to you as Ambassador of India to the UN and never essentially in my capability as Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. Allow me on the outset to precise my deep appreciation for the super breadth of the matters you might be overlaying over the subsequent a number of days. I commend you and need you an enriching dialogue.
In the worldwide counter-terrorism area, the terrorist assaults of the 9/11 in 2001 had proved to be a turning level in our strategy in direction of terrorism. The assaults highlighted the next:The risk of terrorism is grave and common and might solely be defeated by collective efforts of all UN member states.Terrorism in a single place can straight influence peace and safety in one other. Consequently, the period of classifying terrorists as “your terrorist” and “my terrorist” was over.Terrorism in all its kinds and manifestations is to be condemned and there can’t be any exception or justification for any act of terrorism, no matter motivations behind such acts, and wherever, each time and by whomsoever dedicated.The menace of terrorism shouldn’t be related to any faith, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
3. In 2001, via Security Council decision 1373, the Security Council established the Counter-Terrorism Committee (or CTC), as its subsidiary physique with a mandate to evaluate implementation of counter terrorism resolutions and choices of the Security Council in addition to General Assembly by member states, in addition to determine compliance gaps and facilitate technical help to member states via related UN our bodies to plug these gaps. Our combat towards terrorism is as sturdy because the weakest hyperlink within the international chain of member states, and CTC performs crucial position in figuring out such weak hyperlinks and strengthening them, together with by facilitating obligatory capability constructing. In 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted its first Global Counter Terrorism Strategy or GCTS, setting up the counter-terrorism coverage framework on the UN. It is on this context that India has tried to strengthen the UN response to terrorism, together with strengthening the CTC structure, and the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
Friends,
4. Over the previous 2 many years, there has certainly been appreciable progress in combatting terrorism. Elaborate mechanisms have been put in place. Terrorism confronted reverses within the face of resolute Counter-Terrorism measures undertaken by international locations individually or collectively. Many avenues of help have been getting dried up or being plugged by boards like Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and many others. However, we’re just lately witnessing a resurgence of terrorist actions each of their vary and variety in addition to geographical house.
5. As UN Secretary General’s latest studies on risk posed by ISIL have been declaring, ISIL has modified its modus operandi, with the ISIL core focus now on regaining floor in Syria and Iraq and its regional associates strengthening their enlargement, particularly in Africa in addition to in Asia. Similarly, Al-Qaida stays a serious risk and up to date developments in Afghanistan have solely served to re-energize them. Al-Qaida’s linkages with Security Council proscribed terrorist entities like Lashkar e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed has continued to strengthen. It’s regional associates in Africa proceed to increase.
6. It is on this state of affairs that the Security Council adopted UNSC decision 2593 on Afghanistan below India’s Presidency of the Council in August final 12 months. Resolution 2593 took under consideration a few of our collective issues, particularly on terrorism, the place it has famous the dedication of the Taliban to not enable using the Afghan soil for terrorism, together with from terrorists and terrorist teams designated below decision 1267. It has underlined that Afghan territory shouldn’t be used to threaten or assault any nation or to shelter or practice terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts. It’s subsequently very important that sympathizers of Al-Qaida in Taliban cease their help to Al-Qaida and ISIL.
7. Further, developments in Afghanistan are being carefully watched in Africa by terrorist and radical teams. We want to make sure that they and different regional associates of ISIL and Al-Qaeda don’t get emboldened and make the most of armed battle conditions in and across the Sahel area and Lake Chad Basin space.
8. With this background, enable me to dwell on some counter-terrorism traits and developments on the UN, what influence will they’ve on the worldwide counter-terrorism discourse and India’s strategy in direction of them.
9. The first pattern is what’s being known as “emerging threats”. This is actually a transfer to categorize terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, based mostly on the motivations behind such acts. In the previous two years, a number of member states, pushed by their political, non secular and different motivations, have been attempting to label terrorism into classes corresponding to racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism, violent nationalism, proper wing extremism, and many others. This tendency is harmful for a number of causes. First, this goes towards a number of the accepted ideas agreed to by all UN Member States within the just lately adopted Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which clearly states that terrorism in all its kinds and manifestations ought to be condemned and there can’t be any justification for any act of terrorism, in any respect. Second, it will take us again to the pre 9/11 period of labeling terrorists as “Your Terrorists” and “My Terrorists” and erase the collective beneficial properties we’ve made during the last twenty years. Third, you will need to perceive that in democracies right-wing and left-wing are a part of the polity primarily as a result of they arrive to energy via the poll reflecting the bulk will of the individuals and in addition since democracy by definition comprises a broad spectrum of ideologies and beliefs. We subsequently must be cautious of offering a wide range of classifications, which can militate towards the idea of democracy itself. Fourth, even such labels are being given to so-called threats that are restricted to sure nationwide or regional contexts. The extrapolation of such nationwide or regional narratives into a worldwide narrative is deceptive and faulty. Such traits are neither international nor have any agreed international definition.
10. It is with such distortions in thoughts, and to fight them, that India’s External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishanker, when talking to the Security Council, talked about inter alia the next: First, we should all summon up the political will to fight terrorism. There should be no ifs and buts on this combat. Nor ought to we enable terrorism to be justified and terrorists glorified. All member states should fulfil their obligations enshrined in worldwide counter terrorism devices and conventions. Second, we should not countenance double requirements on this battle. Terrorists are terrorists; there aren’t any good and dangerous ones. Those who propagate this distinction have an agenda. And those that cowl up for them are simply as culpable. And third, we should firmly discourage exclusivist pondering that divides the world and harms our social cloth. Such approaches facilitate radicalization and recruitment by breeding worry, distrust, and hatred amongst completely different communities. The Council ought to be on guard towards new terminologies and false priorities that may dilute our focus.
Friends,
11. Another pattern that has of late change into outstanding is highlighting sure non secular phobias. The UN has highlighted a few of them through the years, specifically, these based mostly on Islamophobia, Christianophobia and antisemitism – the three Abrahamic religions. These three discover point out within the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. But new phobias, hatred or bias towards different main religions of the world have to even be absolutely recognised. The emergence of latest types of religiophobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh phobias is a matter of significant concern and wishes consideration of the UN and all Member States to deal with this risk. It is barely then can we convey larger steadiness into our dialogue on such matters.
12. Further, misuse of data and communication expertise corresponding to web and social media for terrorist propaganda, radicalization and recruitment of cadre; misuse of latest cost strategies and crowdfunding platforms for financing of terrorism; and misuse of rising applied sciences for terrorist functions have emerged as probably the most severe threats of terrorism and can determine the counter-terrorism paradigm going ahead. Internet and social media platforms have became indispensable assets within the toolkit of Global Terrorist Groups (GTGs) for spreading terrorist propaganda and conspiracy theories geared toward spreading hatred amongst societies and communities and supply extra radicalization alternatives which can proliferate globally. The elevated use of closed group communications provides to the priority. Covid-19 and the next isolation has additional accentuated the influence of web on individuals making them susceptible to radicalization and recruitment by terrorist teams. Continuing developments in evolving applied sciences, viz. Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, “Deep fakes”, Blockchain, Dark internet, and many others., are fraught with the danger of being abused by terrorists. Already, crypto currencies, digital property, crowdfunding platforms are serving to terror financing, owing to anonymity and the un-traceable nature of those applied sciences. Added to that is using Drones. Being a low-cost possibility and simply obtainable, utilization of those aerial/sub-surface platforms by terrorist teams for functions corresponding to intelligence assortment, weapon/explosives supply and focused assaults have change into a problem for safety businesses worldwide. In our context we’ve witnessed terrorists utilizing UAS to smuggle weapons and medicines throughout the borders and in addition launch terrorist assaults. Given the transnational nature of those treats, this warrants a holistic collaborative strategy by member states, personal sector, civil society organizations and many others. in addition to to strengthening help to monetary watchdogs corresponding to FATF to make sure that member states convey their counter-financing buildings at par with worldwide requirements.
Friends,
13. It can also be vital to level out that the existential risk of terrorism in Africa is quickly evolving. Terrorism in Africa exacerbates state fragility and will increase the vulnerability of communities as a result of terrorism conflates with different pervasive challenges corresponding to poverty, youth unemployment, compelled migration, arms trafficking in addition to rising cyber and transnational organized crime. As identified by our African colleagues within the Security Council, ISIL and Al-Qaeda linked and impressed teams in Africa are embedding themselves in a number of home conflicts, significantly in international locations searching for to determine democratic establishments, with the terrorists trying to affect and management the political agenda. Sustained peacebuilding efforts, giving due management position to international locations of Africa, using African knowledge for battle decision, harnessing the power of Africa’s regional and sub-regional organizations are wanted to take care of the fragility and insecurities going through the continent on a long run. There is little question that the peacebuilding efforts ought to be complemented by worldwide neighborhood extending help to regional counter-terrorism initiatives. For instance, the international locations of the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin are giving severe resistance to the terrorist teams. However as a result of weak economies, lack of monetary assets, logistics and tools shortcomings, they’re unable to significantly counter the specter of terrorism. It is subsequently vital that the regional safety initiatives of African international locations corresponding to G-5 Sahel Joint Force, and Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) are supplied extra strong help from the Security Council together with via UN assessed contributions. This has been their ask for fairly a while. To discourage terrorist teams from any misadventure and drawing inspiration from occasions in Afghanistan, a united international name denouncing any makes an attempt to hijack reputable political aspirations of the individuals by ISIL and Al-Qaeda components, is want of the hour.
Friends,
14. The UN sanctions regimes, together with the one established by decision 1267, are pivotal to the worldwide efforts in stopping terror-financing, terrorist-travel, and entry to arms by the terrorist organizations. However, implementation of those measures stays difficult. It is essential that each one sanctions regimes established by the Council guarantee due course of of their working procedures and decision-making. The decision-making course of and itemizing/delisting measures ought to be goal, swift, credible, proof based mostly and clear, and never for political and spiritual concerns. Linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime should be absolutely acknowledged and addressed vigorously. We have seen the crime syndicate answerable for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts not simply given state safety however having fun with 5-star hospitality. Besides, a latest report of the Monitoring Team (MT) concerning asset freeze exemptions procedures pursuant to decision 2560 (2020), factors to the lacunae of asset freeze measures by Member States, partly as a result of deficiencies within the current tips of the Committee. I’m glad to tell that with an goal to eradicating these deficiencies and additional strengthen the 1267 sanctions regime, India constructively participated within the negotiations of the decision 2610, which was adopted by the Security Council on 17 December 2021.
15. Friends, unnecessary so as to add there are different priorities within the UN and within the CTC which I’ve talked about solely in passing as a result of paucity of time. However, I want to re-iterate that India’s motion on the UN to deal with the above traits and developments will probably be pushed by the 8 priorities set by our External Affairs Minister, within the UNSC Ministerial assembly on twentieth Anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1373 and the institution of the Counter Terrorism Committee, held on 12 January.
16. India has made the terrorism as a precedence of our two-year tenure within the Security Council. These priorities envisage strengthening the multilateral response to counter terrorism. Equally vital is to make sure that combating terrorism stays on the middle of “Our Common Agenda” set out by the Secretary General, and never at its periphery. India held a high-level occasion throughout our Presidency which was chaired by our External Affairs Minister. Further on the sidelines of the 2nd counter terrorism week in June final 12 months, our Mission in New York co-hosted together with France an occasion on “Countering the Financing of Terrorism in the post-COVID landscape”. We had strong participation from UN our bodies like UNOCT, UNODC, UN CTED in addition to FATF.
17. Let me conclude by commending you all as soon as once more for organizing a world convention on Terrorism and overlaying such a variety of matters.
I thanks.
