JEDDAH: Terrorism should not be linked to religion, nationality or race, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, told a meeting of ambassadors of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.

In his address as chairman of the Islamic group to combat terrorism on behalf of the OIC, Al-Mouallimi said that the use of terms linking terror to religion, such as Islamic State, should be avoided.

There should be no discrimination between terrorist groups from all religions and sects, and calls for extremism and terrorism should be condemned regardless of their source, he added.

The meeting was chaired by the UAE at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

Al-Mouallimi focused on issues agreed by OIC states after consultations led by Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi envoy’s address summarized OIC member states’ major role in combating terrorism, and their call for the comprehensive implementation of the anti-terrorism strategy, as well as their emphasis on full respect for sovereignty and equality in accordance with the UN charter.

Al Mouallimi called for an extension of Security Council sanctions related to Daesh and Al-Qaeda in order to include all terrorist groups that have targeted Muslims.

He also urged countries to develop comprehensive strategies to protect critical infrastructure from terror attacks.