Translating this royal vision into practical reality requires moving beyond the temporary reactions that may accompany major events, where relevant authorities rush to hold meetings and launch initiatives, only for interest in them to gradually fade. Combating extremism requires a sustainable national policy based on clear legislative, administrative, and executive measures that are subject to continuous review and evaluation, based on the premise that prevention is more effective than merely addressing the consequences of crimes after they occur.
At the legislative level, the question arises regarding the adequacy of existing laws, primarily the Anti-Terrorism Law No. (55) of 2006 and its amendments, to confront manifestations of extremism and religious intolerance. Despite the importance of this legislation in criminalizing terrorist acts and related activities, and establishing strict penalties that in some cases reach the death penalty, there is a necessity to study the need for a more specialized legal framework that addresses manifestations of extremism, incitement to hatred, and discrimination before they evolve into acts of violence and terrorism.
In this context, the Emirati experience, represented by Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2023 on Combating Discrimination, Hatred, and Extremism, stands out as a legislative experience worthy of study. The Emirati legislator defined extremism as any act performed by a person or group motivated by ideas, ideologies, values, or principles that would disturb public order, disparage religions, discriminate, or incite hate speech, which includes any statement or act that would incite strife, discord, or discrimination between individuals or groups.
The Emirati law did not stop at setting these definitions, but also criminalized various acts, including the exploitation of religion to declare individuals or groups as infidels for illegal purposes, attacking places of worship, and promoting materials that contain incitement to hatred or discrimination. The law also considered the commission of certain crimes of extremism and hatred within places of worship as an aggravating circumstance for the penalty, which enhances legal protection for religious sites and contributes to safeguarding societal peace.
One of the important aspects of the Emirati legislation is that it was not limited to penal sanctions, but included preventive and rehabilitative measures, such as the possibility of placing the perpetrator of one of the crimes stipulated therein in a specialized counseling center if the danger of their extremism and the possibility of them committing another crime exist, by a judicial ruling based on a request from the Public Prosecution, with their case being subject to periodic review.
However, confronting extremism is not achieved by legislation alone, but requires consolidating the rule of law, the values of citizenship, acceptance of the other, and respect for religious and social pluralism, especially among the younger generations. This requires continuous institutional efforts in which schools, universities, and religious and cultural institutions participate to enhance awareness of constitutional rights and duties, and to consolidate the principle that differences in opinion and belief do not diminish citizenship or equality before the law.
At the executive level, there is a need to review the national plan to counter extremism to keep pace with current challenges, and to activate its implementation mechanisms by defining priorities and responsibilities and enhancing coordination between government, security, religious, and educational institutions. The updated plan should include sustainable programs for awareness, early intervention, intellectual and behavioral rehabilitation, and social reintegration, while setting clear timelines and indicators to measure results and evaluate performance, ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of efforts, far from the approach of panic and immediate reactions.
The Hammoud crime has confirmed the importance of confronting extremism before it turns into attacks on lives and places of worship. The state’s success in combating terrorism is not measured only by its ability to pursue and punish its perpetrators, but by the effectiveness of its preventive policies in addressing the ideology that fuels violence and hatred, and in safeguarding national unity and the social fabric.
* Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Jordan
