ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said terrorist gangs have exploited social media to spew their venom and spread hate speech, sedition and division, primarily targeting youth.

Momani, who is also the government's official spokesman, spoke to Arab youth participating in the 14th Arab Capitals Youth meeting, titled "Arab youth and fighting terrorism and extremism", which was opened yesterday by Prime Minister Hani Mulki.

Jordan, he said, is countering terrorism and its extremist gangs, which do not represent Islam and its tolerant values or Arab history and culture, through a holistic, three-pronged approach involving the military, security and ideological aspects.

He said social media are tools for "building, not destruction", pointing out that Daesh and other terror gangs, which had failed on all media and other fronts, had taken to the web, seeking to destroy and wreak strife and division, and promote their violent ideology among misled youth.

"Terrorists take to social media, which is widely used among youth, the largest (segment) in the region and the world", he said, adding that the terrorists' weapons had moved beyond the gun to smart phones, the fastest means they use for evil purposes and to spew their venom. He said countering the extremist content and violent ideology disseminated by terrorists on social platforms required a real stand to refute and dismiss their false allegations, calling on countries to form task forces of experts and media platforms to spread the true image of Islam and Arab culture.

The minister urged that youth, whom he called a national asset and a key pillar of social stability, to stand as a bulwark against threats posed to their countries and to be "the fortress" to repel terrorism in all its forms and manifestations through awareness and enlightened thought.

The youth gathering, which drew participants from 14 Arab countries, is organised by the Ministry of Youth in cooperation with the Arab league.