EU's top human rights official supports military action against terrorist groups

BRUSSELS, April 21 (KUNA) -- EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, Tuesday said military action is important to fight terrorist groups like ISIL but human rights must be respected.
"It is extremely important to be able to be vigilant including militarily, However, fighting terrorists including through military means has to be absolutely subjected to governments or international coalitions and obligation to do so with respect to human rights," he told a conference on violent extremism held at the European Parliament in Brussels this evening.
"We as governments have to fight sometimes militarily terrorists, but unless we do it with full respect to human rights we violate our obligations," he added.
Lambrinidis called for building of coalitions around the world with different political and religious leaders to combat violent extremism and terrorism.
The EU, he noted, has repeatedly called for Syria to be brought before the International Criminal Court for crimes committed by the government and also by militant groups.
On the publication of cartoons that insult others beliefs and faiths, he said "the fact that I can offend someone doesn't necessarily means that I should. This is a very fine line between law and morality. This is where education and discussions among different religions comes in." The Group of Socialists and Democrats organised the high-level meeting to discuss policies and preventive measures to fight intolerance and discrimination against minority communities in Europe.
Gianni Pittella, president of the S&D Group, in his opening remarks said that after the last terrorist attacks in Europe and Tunis, many have resorted to the false belief that the best way of fighting terrorism is to strengthen control over our borders and to tackle illegal migration.
"These are neither the real problems nor solutions. Our national security strategies must address the risks of radicalisation of vulnerable and marginalised people, strengthening integration and dialogue with third countries. Terrorist threats should be met with more democracy, not less," he stressed.
S&D vice-president Tanja Fajon said fighting extremism is not an issue of "Islam versus the West, but she warned that "social relations between citizens with different backgrounds are becoming increasingly tense across Europe, as terrorists, racists and extremists spread their hate through violence and fear.
"Violent extremists and terrorists succeed when people start mistrusting each other because of social boundaries and stereotypes. To overcome this, we need to bolster the bridges of communication and trust within the European societies," she said.
Latifa bin Zaiten whose son Imad was killed in a terrorist attack in the French city of Tolouse in 2102 narrated her painful experience over the loss of her dear son and said that she has formed an association called Imad-ibn-Zaiten for Youth and Peace. (end) nk.bs