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Scholars Urge Dialogue to Combat Terror
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The
conference was organized by Saudi businessman Sheikh Saleh Kamel.
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By
Basiouni Al-Wakil, IOL Correspondent
SHARM
EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, August 23, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Muslim
scholars from around the world wrapped up Monday, August 22, a meeting
in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of Sharm El-Sheikh with a call to
combat the global phenomenon of terrorism through constructive
dialogue.
"The
absence of dialogue is one of the main reasons behind thriving
terrorism," read the final communique of the two-day conference,
organized by Saudi business mogul Sheikh Saleh Kamel’s Iqraa
Foundation.
The
scholars called for addressing the underlying and root causes of
terrorism to fight the phenomenon, which reared its ugly head on
different parts of the world recently.
The
scholars also urged independent writers and intellectuals to come up
with initiatives to bridge the gab between lay people and their
rulers.
"Muslim
rulers, for their part, have the solemn commitment of protecting
religion from being overtaken by secularism and making life better for
their peoples."
The
conference was attended by a host of leading figures, including Sheikh
Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Mohammad Sayed Tantawi, the grand imam of Al-Azhar,
the highest seat of religious learning in the Sunni world.
The
event comes three weeks after up to 64 people were killed in three
bomb attacks in Sharm El-Sheikh, the most deadly attacks in the
country for more than 20 years.
Three
groups, two of them citing ties with Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda
network, have claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the
authenticity of the statements could not be verified.
Muslim
Behavior
The
participants also urged the media to cooperate with scholars and
intellectuals to clear stereotypes formed about Muslims and Islam.
The
statement called on Muslims in Europe to show to the world the
civilized face of Islam.
"Muslim
behavior must speak louder than words in the West," the scholars
averred.
Defining
terrorism as "any act of violence against civilian, innocent
people or public properties," the scholars said acts of terror
are harming Islamic interests abroad and creating domino effect on
Muslims worldwide.
Drawing
a clear distinction between terrorism and resistance against the
occupiers, the conferees maintained that all faiths hold human life in
high esteem.
"All
divine religions in general and Islam in particular prohibit the
killing of innocent people or terrifying civilians."
They
also stressed that Shari`ah (Muslim law) prohibited the kidnapping of
civilians and innocent people.
They
also made clear that foreigners in Muslim countries are protected
under the pledge of security given to them under Shari`ah.
The
scholars also rejected radical claims that turning against Muslim
rulers is a sort of jihad, distancing it further from the acts of
terrorism that claim the lives of innocent people and spread panic.
Sharm
El-Sheikh’s conference coincided with a similar one in London, which
closed Sunday, August 21.
Titled
"Together for a Better Future," the London conference is
held upon an initiative from famed Muslim preacher Amr Khaled to
discuss a host of social and family issues such as domestic violence,
extremism, crime and unemployment.
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