TALAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Kyrgyz authorities recently held a public meeting in Talas to discourage extremism and terrorism, the Bishkek-based NGO Iyman Foundation's press office said in a November 15 statement. Representatives of the provincial police, clergy, State National Security Committee (GKNB) Anti-Terrorism Centre, and Iyman, as well as college students and border troops, participated.
During the event, Muslim clergy urged the youth and border troops not to believe claims that Islam calls for violence. Employees of Iyman and the Anti-Terrorism Centre gave practical advice on how to protect oneself from the blandishments of extremists.
"The extremists ... are criminals, just like members of an armed organised-crime ring," an Iyman official said.
After the imams' remarks, the participants watched the Talas premiere showing of a GKNB-Iyman film called "This Isn't My War", meant to discourage extremist recruitment.
