Research by a
Northumbria academic is helping the United Nations and other international
agencies develop strategies to counter terrorism and violent extremism in the
Middle East.
Professor
Mohamed Badar, Chair of Comparative and International Criminal Law at
Northumbria Law School, was invited to present his work to delegates at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
– United Nations Regional Conference for the Middle East and North Africa, which
was held in Egypt recently. The request followed previous research
completed by Professor Badar, and funded by the European Union, investigating
cross-border cooperation on crime and justice.
Conference attendees
/ participants included the President of the Egyptian House of Representatives,
IPU Secretary General, Parliamentarians from the MENA region, the
Inter-Parliamentary Union for Democracy, the United Nations Office of Counter
Terrorism, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and representatives of
the Arab Parliament and Arab League. Delegates and speakers explored international
counter terrorism strategies, including the specific threat from the
mobilisation of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF) and best ways to establish a
coordinated international response.
Professor
Badar’s research on cross border cooperation to counter threats of terrorism
was sought to provide expertise and to inform the Conference. He said: “This
was an extremely high-profile event with senior national officials in
attendance, so it was encouraging to see the research I have been conducting
here at Northumbria having real impact and resonating at such a high level. I
was able to address the audience on best practice in combating terrorism while
respecting human rights legislation, and exchange the knowledge and experience
based on EuroMed Justice documents which I drafted together with group of
international experts. Much of our work and the conclusions we have been able
to draw complement actions already being taken by the authorities, so I believe
it was valuable to be able to reinforce and add to this.”
Professor Badar
was also able to highlight how digital evidence can be used effectively in prosecutions
of acts of terrorism, particularly the use of the internet and social media for
terrorist purposes. He added: “The UK is a world leader in using digital
evidence in prosecutions, and I was able to use relevant examples of this to
demonstrate how the use of online propaganda and social media by groups such as
the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) can be targeted as part of the legal
response to terrorism. Conferences such as this are extremely important as they
allow us to share information and ideas so that threats can be combated far
more effectively.”
Professor
Badar’s earlier research contributed to a publication entitled EuroMed Justice
Handbook on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters. The project received
€25,000 in funding from the European Union as part of a EuroMed Justice IV
project to help develop judicial and law enforcement cooperation in the
European Neighbourhood South Partner Countries (ENSPC) - Algeria, Egypt,
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia.
