West should review practices on extremism

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called on the West to study the reasons why a large number of militants in the Middle East region are from western countries.

“The West should review [its practices] on the issue of [handling] extremism,” Zarif said during a session on “The Geopolitical Outlook” in the Swiss city of Davos on January 23, adding, “The westerners should ask the question what has been wrong [in their practices] that a large number … of the extremists in the Middle East come from western societies.”

“Those who have instigated Takfirism in the region are the second and third generation civilians from western societies,” he added.

“They (the extremist) have grown up in the West and unfortunately have come to Iraq and Syria,” Zarif said, adding “why westerners are committing acts of terrorism in the Middle East is a serious question.”

Zarif further described “extremism” as a “serious crisis” in the region which must be tackled.

“Stopping support for the ISIL Takfiri group is the most significant way to stop extremism in the region,” Zarif said, adding that the Takfiri group is supported and is used by certain countries as pawns in the geostrategic games to dominate the region.

The top Iranian diplomat also said that a “mutlifaceted strategy” is required to fight the ISIL terrorist group.

The United States and a number of other western and regional countries are accused of backing anti-Damascus militants, many of whom are now members of ISIL.

The Takfiri group, with members from several Western countries including the UK, Canada, France, Australia and Germany, controls parts of Syria and Iraq, and has been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.