Abu dhabi: Hedayah, the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism, has announced the appointment of Maqsoud Kruse, Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering Extremism and Terrorism, as the Chairman of its International Steering Board. The International Steering Board of Hedayah consists of twelve member states, with the chairmanship held by the host country.
According to Emirates News Agency, Hedayah is an independent international think and do tank, established as an initiative of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and hosted by the United Arab Emirates. The Centre was inaugurated on December 14, 2012, by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the third ministerial meeting of the GCTF held in Abu Dhabi.
Hedayah operates through multilateral partnerships with international organisations and a network of global experts to exchange knowledge in countering all forms of extremism. Its programmes include strengthening the role of families, the role of education in protecting against extremist ideologies, enhancing youth resilience in cyberspace, utilising Artificial Intelligence, supporting national strategies, assisting countries in rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, and supporting community policing initiatives.
Kruse previously served as Hedayah's first Executive Director from its founding in 2012 until 2019. During his tenure, he was pivotal in establishing the centre's global reputation as the first independent international institution to bridge research and practice in countering extremism through dialogue, capacity building, and research at both regional and international levels.