KUWAIT: A panel discussion involving Kuwaiti and European experts called for more meticulous planning as part of efforts to clamp down on terrorism, which includes eliminating any resources that help feed the scourge. Extremist and "terrorist" groups often have a wide array of tools at their disposal, said Dr Abdullah Al-Shareeka, head of an information ministry-assembled team aiming to fight extremist ideologies, emphasizing that perpetrators of "terrorist" acts have no links to the Islamic faith.

It is incumbent upon media outlets and news sources to report with more "accuracy and transparency" when dealing with stories on terrorism, according to Prevention of Violent Extremism and Strategic Communications expert Guilia Giacomelli, of Belgium. The panel delves into the "root causes" of extremism and radicalization, said Kuwaiti antiterrorism team member Sheikha Sara Al-Sabah, pointing out that a multitude of Kuwaiti state bodies are participating in, which falls under a broader EU-Gulf Arab cooperation framework.

Meanwhile,Kuwaiti and European experts emphasized Wednesday the need to fully grasp social media platforms to help create a tolerant society away from extremist thought and terrorist acts. The specialists were participating in a three-day workshop organized by Kuwaiti Information Ministry and sponsored by Minister of Information and Culture, and State Minister for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, to promote preventative intervention and protect states and individual alike from online terrorism.

Cyber terrorism, commented the head of cybersecurity committee within electronic media union, Mohammad Al-Rashedi, has become more lethal than ever, especially considering that a cyberwar is less costly but could topple an entire country's electronic system.

Al-Rashedi underlined the need for a specialized authority to counter cyber terrorism, raise awareness, and block attacks. European Union Prevention of Violent Extremism and Strategic Communications expert Guilia Giacomelli stated that the EU began in 2015 implementing laws and stipulations to curb spread of such violence via overseeing criminal content, and removing terrorist propaganda and hate speech online.

In 2012, people were recruited online to perform terrorist acts as some accounts post misleading elusive messages that are hard to decipher, which pushed for an agreement with social media platforms to restrict such extremist violent acts, Giacomelli explained.

The state of Kuwait is cracking down on all forms of terrorism, affirmed head of anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing center, Saud Al-Mhesh adding that it is willing to extend a helping hand to any country to stand in the face of violent groups. - KUNA