RIYADH — The Riyadh Forum on Countering Extremism and Fighting Terrorism, sponsored by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), is slated for May 21 and will have four moderated panels under this year's theme of the nature of extremism and the future of terrorism. The panel subjects are: Daesh 2.0 & the future of terrorism; online extremism and offline terrorism; the crime/terror nexus; and confronting terrorism; the regional picture. Each panel will be moderated by individuals with Middle East Policy and counter terrorism experience. "The Riyadh Forum on Countering Extremism and Fighting Terrorism is of global importance, given its topics, especially the crime/terror nexus. This is of extreme significance as we must understand that there is an important link between terrorism itself and crime. With current terror groups, the link is much deeper. These terrorists recruit mostly from prisons and from among former criminals, and they get their funding from criminal activities." Said Dr. Huda Al-Helaisi, who will be moderating the forum's opening session. The forum panels will have open and frank discussion on the issues facing our region and the world today. Each panel will be attended by subject matter experts, in the fields of extremism and terrorism, to shed light on the real nature of extremism and discuss actual solutions to fighting terrorism. The hope is that this dialogue will inspire others to conduct research and develop tangible strategies to fight extremism in all its forms. The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) are committed to providing all the resources necessary to ensure success in this important effort. The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, established in 1983, brings together researchers and institutions to sustain, produce and disseminate academic work, as well as to enrich the cultural and intellectual life in the Kingdom. It is also regarded as a bridge through which to maintain contact and establish communication with the rest of the world. KFCRIS produces in-depth analysis on contemporary political issues, Saudi studies, North African and Arab Maghreb studies, Iranian and Asian studies, energy studies, and studies on the Arabic language and modernity. The center has developed cooperation with prestigious institutions of scientific research in various countries. It is home to a group of outstanding researchers and has forged strong links with scholars around the world. Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) is a 41-nation alliance of willing partner countries united in the fight against terror. IMCTC will provide a platform for countries to propose, debate, and facilitate collaboration among members and supporting nations for the execution of initiatives in four domains – ideology, communications, counter-terrorism (CT) financing and military.
