Maldives hosts IMCT's Building the Capacity of Imams and Preachers Program

A regional training program titled "Building the Capacity of Imams and Preachers”, a joint initiative by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) of the Maldives has been launched yesterday.

The five-day program, held in Male', brings together imams and religious speakers from across the country to enhance their ability to counter extremist narratives.

The launch event was attended by Maldives’ Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Minister of Sports Abdulla Rafiu, and IMCTC Secretary-General Major General Mohamed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Shaheem highlighted the importance of providing credible, Islamic-based education to tackle extremism.

“Terrorism is an ideological disease that has no religion,” he said, expressing gratitude to Saudi Arabia’s leadership for its continued support in combatting radical ideologies and safeguarding the Muslim Ummah.

Secretary-General Al-Moghedi said that the IMCTC, established under Saudi leadership, is focused on unifying international efforts against terrorism through its four domains; ideological, media, counter terrorist financing, and military.

He said that the current training program reflects the coalition’s strategic understanding that effective counterterrorism must go beyond military action and address the roots of radicalization.

The training includes workshops on recognizing extremist propaganda, effective communication strategies for preachers, and promoting the values of moderation and balance.

Participants will also explore successful preaching methods from across the Islamic world.

This initiative is part of IMCTC’s wider agenda, which includes 15 strategic initiatives and plans for 90 training sessions across member states.

The Maldives program underscores the coalition’s commitment to building regional capabilities and fostering cooperation among Muslim-majority countries in the fight against terrorism.