The final communique and recommendation of International

Conference on Combatting Terrorism and Religious Extremism,

held in Damascus 30 November, 20141 December, 2014
The Formulation Committee consisted of the following people:

1-

Dr. Bassam Habib Barakat

Syria

2-

Dr. Salah Eddin Dassouki

Egypt

3-

Dr. Salim Harab

Syria

4-

Tayssir Smadi

Syria

5-

Sheikh Hassan Janayni

Egypt

6-

Dr. Amal Wahdan

Palestine

7-

Dr. OuniHomsi

Syria

8-

Matre Avocat Samih Khress

Jordan

9-

Luc Michel

France

10- Younes Sonar

Turkey

11- Gordon Duff

USA

12- Dr Hassan Joni

Lebanon

13- Sergi Paporine

Russia

14- Dr. Franc Grilliman

Belgium

15- Dr. Habib Mahmoud

Syria

16- Dr. Mateusz Piskorski

Poland

17- Dr. Mohamad Kheir Akkam

Syria

18- Abdelsalam Sultan

Turkey

19- Dr. YehyaGhaddar

Lebanon

The committee formulated the following closing statement:

The International Conference for Combating Terrorism and Religious Extremism was
held between 30 November, 2014, and 1 December, 2014, in Damascus, under the
patronage of the Ministry of Justice. Intellectual, political and media figures from 25
different countries participated in the event, along with scholars and clergymen, as
well as researchers in political and economic affairs and international law.
Four central discussion topics, or axes, were deliberated upon at length throughout
the two days of activities:
First Topic: the Attitude of International Law towards terrorism
Second Topic: Terrorism and Religious Extremism
Third Topic: Terrorism & National Sovereignty
Forth Topic: the Illegitimacy of unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Syrian
Arab Republic
The conference members confirmed that terrorism is an unjustifiable, criminal act, no
matter what forms, shapes, aspects, or names it might assume. This remains true
regardless of the perpetrators or their reasons, and regardless of whoever may stand
behind any terroristic act, whether they may be states or individuals. Terrorism
represents a threat to international security and peace and targets the integrity and
stability of states and national felicity.

The conference also condemns the negligent stance taken by the international
community towards the crimes perpetrated by armed terroristic gangs. Additionally,
it affirms the necessity of serious steps aimed at draining the resources of these
organizations, and at denying them their funding and training, along with halting the
flow of military equipment into their possession. The conference also advocates
international measures to stop the smuggling of terrorists across national borders, and
it voices a rejection of any and all attempts to justify terrorist acts.
The Conference also offers the following conclusions and recommendations:
1- Confirming the right of nations to resist terrorism and occupation, and the
invalidation of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of states.
2- Condemning any party that supports terrorism, either materialistically or
morally, regardless whether said party may be a state, international organization, or
individual, and regardless of any immunities and privileges that may be enjoyed by
such parties.
3Terrorism must be combated at the international level, via UN agencies,
without prejudice to the right of sovereignty and without legitimatizing interference
in the internal affairs of any state under pretexts of combatting terrorism. Moreover,
UN resolutions shall not be interpreted selectively, since the UN is the only vehicle to
interpret such resolutions.
4- The right to file a judicial lawsuit against any party involved, directly or
indirectly, in terrorism, using international courts, with national jurisdiction applied
in each state, according to international law. Grounds for such a suit would include
incitement for terrorism via different media platforms.
5- In coordination with the ministries of Justice and the Interior, give the Syrian
Bar Association the right to file lawsuits against those promoting or aiding and
abetting terrorism, with such suits being filed before the competent courts. The Bar
Association could depend on any suitable or proficient party to fulfill this task,
whether inside Syria or abroad.
6- The formation of an international public forum, headquartered in Damascus, to
combat terrorism and religious extremism. Initial members of such a forum shall be
considered as founding members. Membership shall be available for anyone
combating terrorism and religious extremism. A public court with international
standing should emerge from this forum; selection of judges and power of attorneys
shall be defined in coordination with conference members.
7- Trying to revive UN General Assembly resolution number 3379, which
considers the Zionist Movement a racial movement, and affirming racialism as a
3

cause of terrorism. The conference members shall also ask the UN to regard the
Wahhabist movement, along with any other relevant trends, as terroristic in nature.
8- Evaluate religious preaching and school curricula with a view toward
determining whether the doctrines espoused promote violence; to also repudiate any
doctrines found to be promoting such. The aim should be the establishing of good
ethics to assist in society building, rather than fostering youngsters with extremist
Wahhabist ideas, while at the same time shining a spotlight upon the brightest aspects
of religious heritage.
9- Considering the unilateral economic sanctionsimposed by US, the EU, or any
other statesagainst Syria as illegitimate and a violation of international law and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Work to eliminate such sanctions at once,
while giving Syria the right to claim compensation for material and immaterial
losses.
10- Considering sieges imposed on states for political reasons, particularly those
instituted against Syria and the Gaza Strip, to be a type of terrorism.
11- Condemning and pursuing justice against any party plundering the wealth of the
Syrian peoplewhether that wealth may take the form of oil, folkloric and/or
historical heritage, or economic assetsand regarding such acts of plunder as a direct
support of terrorism. Additionally, conference members shall ask the relevant UN
agencies as well as international criminal police to take appropriate measures, to
condemn, and if possible prosecute, the culprits, whether states, organizations or
individuals, with these objectives also being coupled with efforts at recovering the
stolen objects and riches.
12- Rejecting double standards in all issues related to terrorism cases, especially
double standards evinced by media. Also affirming and respecting the right of states
to express their opinions within the limits of the international public system and the
UN Charter. Moreover, the conference members shall ask the international
community to recognize attempts to fine, sanction, or silence media channels,
especially Syrian ones, as a massive violation of the international law.
Conference members salute the Syrian people, army, and leadership for hosting this
conference. Special thanks are expressed to the Syrian Ministry of Justice for its
patronage, and to the organizing committee for a successful conference agenda. The
members also reassure their backing and support to the Syrian government in its fair
and legitimate battle against terrorism and extremism, which it keeps fighting on
behalf of humanity in general.