IMAMS AS A COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY: USA IS SKEPTICAL.

Countries such as Indonesia have called for the addition of religious leaders such as Imams to the conversation of international online terrorism recruitment. The delegation of Indonesia had the following remarks: Islam has nothing to do with terrorism, and terrorism had nothing to do with Islam. Islam is a religion of peace. Without having Imams present in the discussion, opportunities for radicalisation only rise. Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, so this stance seems logical. On our side of the Ocean, the opinions are different. There is uncertainty over whether or not the inclusion of Imams in the debate on anti-terrorism is a good idea. Islamic Terrorism is a huge problem all over the world, it seems counterintuitive to give the religious leaders a voice.  The delegation of the USA noted that ‘Under the Trump Administration, the USA is very skeptical about who is involved in the terrorism-based conversation.’