University to host global conference on terrorism

Riyadh: Dr Mohammad Al Oqla, director of the Islamic University in Madinah, announced that King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has granted his endorsement to the university to hold an international conference against terrorism.

Several key figures, including leading Islamic scholars, thinkers and intellectuals from various parts of the world will be invited.

At a press briefing here yesterday Dr Al Oqla said the conference "is aimed at spreading the values of mutual understanding and a spirit of tolerance, and promoting a culture of dialogue and peaceful coexistence."

The Madinah conference is aimed at exerting efforts to root out terrorism as well as to drain its financial sources, said Dr Al Oqla.

The conference is also part of the kingdom's initiative to tackle the malicious campaign being waged against Islam, its Prophet and its holy book, he said, adding that there will be a serious attempt to present the true picture of Islam and Muslims.

The Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) is also holding a global interfaith dialogue conference in Madrid next month.

The MWL has extended invitations to some 200 prominent religious figures representing Islam, Christianity and Judaism from around the world to attend the conference, slated for July 16-18.

The call for a dialogue conference was made by King Abdullah after he won the backing of leading Islamic scholars from around the world at the International Islamic Dialogue Conference in Makkah this month.