OSCE supports public hearing by Kyrgyz Parliament committee on combating threats of terrorism
OSH, 17 November 2014 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported a public hearing of the Kyrgyz Parliament Committee on Defense and Security on “Combating religious extremism and international terrorism” today in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
Representatives of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry, the State Committee on National Security, the State Commission on Religious Affairs under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, regional and local authorities, civil society, youth and media gathered to discuss the current situation concerning the recruitment of Kyrgyz youth and women by foreign militant groups, and find ways to address this security challenge.
The Chair of the Committee for Defense and Security Almazbek Baatyrbekov gave the opening remarks.
“Efforts to protect Kyrgyz youth from recruitment into foreign militant groups active in the Middle East are undeniably vital in order to maintain the secular foundations of the state and ensure peaceful development of Kyrgyzstan,” said Irina Karamushkina, Deputy Chair of the Committee. “Governmental agencies should better co-ordinate their efforts addressing the cases of religious-based recruitment of citizens.”
The OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported the public hearing under the project “Promoting Parliamentarianism in Kyrgyzstan”.