Vienna inter-faith centre aims to promote tolerance

Vienna: A Saudi-backed inter-faith centre was inaugurated on Thursday in Vienna, igniting debate over the subject of religious tolerance.

Backers hope the centre will promote increased tolerance in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism is considered conservative. Strict interpretations of the faith have left Saudi women without the right to drive or to go out without permission from a male relative.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal was in Vienna to launch the inter-faith centre. His comments focused on the "King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue" — and he appeared keen to dispel scepticism about his country's commitment to make it a focal point of inter-faith dialogue and tolerance.

"Saudi Arabia is willing to financially participate in this project, and to place all its moral and political resources behind such a centre, without infringing... on its autonomy or independence from any political interference," he told officials and reporters.

And he warned against "extremist minorities within every religious and cultural community... seeking... to propagate notions of intolerance, exclusion, racism and hatred.

"These tiny minorities," he said, "are trying to hijack and disrupt the legitimate identities and aspirations of people of all cultures and faiths."

The founding document cites principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human rights, "in particular, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." It emphasises "human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."

Its board will consist of three Christians, three Muslims, a Jew, a Buddhist and a Hindu.

King Abdullah, who is regarded as a reformer by Saudi standards, is slowly moving to lift some restrictions dictated by Saudi society. He recently decreed that women would be allowed for the first time to vote and run as candidates in elections for municipal councils.