Terrorism remains one of the most pressing security challenges in the Middle East, making regional cooperation essential to effectively combat this growing threat. In an important step toward enhancing regional collaboration in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East, UNODC, through its Terrorism Prevention Branch, implemented a regional workshop from 22 to 24 September 2024 to enhance international cooperation and mutual legal assistance in terrorism-related cases. The event, held over three days in Amman, brought together senior officials and key representatives from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen, focusing on improving mechanisms for international cooperation in terrorism-related cases.
The workshop gathered representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, along with officials from military courts and public security. Participants focused on the legal, institutional, and operational frameworks within each country, sharing challenges and good practices to better cooperate with other countries in terrorism-related cases. Furthermore, representatives from the Swedish and Dutch embassies in Jordan attended, reinforcing the international dimension of the workshop.
Delegations from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen shared their national frameworks and mechanisms related to international cooperation in criminal matters, with a particular focus on counter-terrorism efforts. Key issues and challenges in prosecuting terrorism cases, as well as the procedures for mutual legal assistance, were highlighted alongside successful strategies for strengthening international partnerships, the coordination of complex investigations and prosecutions in cross-border terrorism cases, effective practices for police-to-police cooperation, and measures for countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) and foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). Additionally, the importance of judicial cooperation and the need for more streamlined and efficient communication channels between countries was underscored.
Furthermore, expert presentations from Egypt, EUROJUST, INTERPOL and UNODC contributed to the success of the regional activity.
A key part of the workshop was comprised of bilateral discussions between the delegations who had the opportunity to explore how mechanisms of mutual legal assistance are functioning among these countries, sharing experiences and identifying good practices and measures to improve collaboration. The outcomes of the discussions emphasized the importance of maintaining clear, open channels of communication between countries to ensure effective and coordinated efforts in counter-terrorism cooperation.
Participants’ reaction to the workshop was positive, with attendees emphasizing the need for continued international and regional cooperation in addressing terrorism, with a particular focus on capacity-building and technical assistance tailored to each country’s unique needs.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Ms. Shurooq Fakhir Oleiwi, Assistant Secretary of the National Committee for Counterterrorism in Iraq, announced a significant and direct outcome of the discussions: "Iraq has decided to work toward signing bilateral international cooperation agreements with both Yemen and Lebanon. These agreements would focus on mutual legal assistance and extradition in counter-terrorism cases. The necessary steps to move toward these agreements will be taken in the coming weeks."
Mr. Brigadier General Khalil Jaber, Head of the Military Court in Lebanon, further emphasized the significance of the event, stating that: "This workshop presented a valuable and rare opportunity to engage with counterparts from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan on critical counter-terrorism cases. These discussions are essential for strengthening our collaborative efforts and developing more effective mechanisms to tackle the ever-evolving threat of terrorism. The meeting further facilitated the exchange of contact information among practitioners from the region as well as the creation of informal communication channels."
This regional workshop was part of UNODC’s broader efforts to strengthen criminal justice institutions in the Middle East and to enhance cross-border cooperation to combat terrorism. The activity, funded by Sweden, worked to enhance regional cooperation and strengthen capacities of national authorities to address the growing threats posed by terrorism.