Baghdad: In cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the National Committee for Combating Violent Extremism Leading to Terrorism conducted its third training workshop for the Soft Power Team from November 30 to December 1, 2025. This workshop serves as a strategic initiative aimed at preventing violent extremism through various cultural and social channels such as literature, art, sports, and media. The event, titled “The Impact of Soft Power in Combating Violent Extremism,” saw participation from the committee’s head, Ali Abdullah Al-Badiri, and team members from subcommittees within ministries and governorates.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Badiri highlighted national priority projects and programs, particularly those spearheaded by the Soft Power Team. He elaborated on the committee’s methodology for preventing violent extremism and discussed the initiatives and programs planned by the team. Al-Badiri mentioned that several initiatives would be rolled out across ministries and governorates, especially in governorates of return, from December 2025 until April 2026.

He further explained that a concluding conference will be held to evaluate these projects, which focus on fostering community resilience and countering extremist narratives on social media through sports, arts, literature, and scouting programs. These initiatives are expected to be implemented collaboratively across all governorates.

The workshop also provided a platform to review the four visions and objectives crafted by the Soft Power Team. Proposals to amend these core objectives were discussed to ensure they align with the significant roles of art, sports, media, and literature as tools for combating violent extremism and promoting social cohesion. Additionally, the workshop evaluated whether these objectives address the community’s need for a secure and stable environment and reviewed strategies for executing initiatives that contribute to building a cohesive society.