Heightened risk of violent extremism

An Afghan security personnel saving a newborn baby from a hospital in Kabul which was attacked by terrorists last month. It is believed that IS had carried out the attack. — AFP

OVER a year ago, the world was shocked by the Christchurch mosque terror attacks. The shooting incidents killed fifty-one people who were at the time performing Friday prayers at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Mosque. The attacks showed that there is no safe haven, as the act of terror could happen at any time and place, requiring continuous effort to prevent and counter violent extremism.

Fast forward to 2020, the “terror” the world is facing is the coronavirus. To date, the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak has recorded over six million confirmed positive cases and more than 390,000 deaths globally. The impact of the outbreak is so severe that it has affected almost every facet of our lives.