ALGIERS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Mohamed Aissa on Tuesday hailed his country's experience in fighting terrorism and violent extremism.
"Nowadays, Algeria is exporting its know-how in the fight against violent extremism and the training of Imams in this field, as it is cooperating with many countries in Europe, America, Africa and Asia," Aissa was quoted by the state-run Channel 1 radio as saying.
The minister noted that Algeria's cooperation with the media managed to counter the extremist and radical rhetoric in order to deter sectarian disputes in the Algerian society, adding that his ministry excluded several Imams who "exploited the mosques to preach hatred and discord."
Algeria is now focusing more on drying up the sources of terrorism and radicalism, and reinforcing the society's immunity from their threats, Aissa said.
He pointed out that terrorism has nothing to do with Islam, but rather it is caused by social, economic, psychological and ideological issues.
Radicalism and violent extremism have been rising in the world in recent decades, as some Islamist hardline groups call for violence to reach their goals.
Algeria experienced the horrors of terrorism in the 1990s. Since then the North Africa nation has managed to develop remarkable ways to fight terrorism and radicalism.
