Egypt urges concerted int'l efforts to counter extremists' sponsors

CAIRO, July 19 (MENA) - Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights and International Humanitarian and Social Affairs Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin on Friday urged concerted international efforts to counter extremists' sponsors.

Gamaleldin was addressing the second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, hosted by the US Department of State on behalf of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri.

He stressed the need not to selectively address the root causes of all kinds of extremism.

The assistant foreign minister also stressed the importance of addressing the phenomenon of Islamophobia, which is still one of the strongest forms of religious discrimination in the world today.

He reviewed the comprehensive and multidimensional efforts exerted by Egypt to promote and protect religious freedoms, underlining Egypt's significant progress in ensuring and respecting the right to freedom of religion and belief, as well as countering the roots of extremism.