Khaled El-Gendy: Countering Extremism Starts With Building People’s Capacity to Think and Engage in Dialogue

Sheikh Khaled El-Gendy, a member of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said efforts to confront extremism must begin with developing people’s intellectual capacities and encouraging dialogue.

El-Gendy stressed that countering extremism should not be limited to challenging extremist ideas after they have already spread. His remarks highlighted the importance of prevention rather than relying solely on a response to existing threats.

He placed human development at the heart of that approach, linking efforts to resist extremism with stronger thinking skills and a willingness to engage in discussion.

The emphasis shifts the focus beyond extremist ideas themselves to the people who may encounter them, with critical engagement and dialogue central to the approach he outlined.