Conference in Makkah urges respect for Muslims

Makkah: The Muslim World League's international conference in Makkah, titled ‘Muslim World League — Reality and Exploring the Future' concluded on Tuesday, with a number of announcements calling for constructive dialogue and fair treatment of Muslims.

The organisers of the conference called on the United Nations, Unesco and other international organisations to prevent Israel from carrying out its plan to destroy Al Aqsa Mosque so that it can build a ‘so-called' temple on the same site.

They also denounced the Israeli colonisation policy which targets the Palestinian people by confiscating their houses and land and expelling them from their country.

Also stressed was the importance of establishing departments for Islamic studies in universities in Muslim-minority countries in order to advocate the genuine principles of Islam, which call for tolerance, flexibility and moderation.

Participants expressed their appreciation of efforts made by Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to support the organisation and its activities and for his service to Islam, Muslims and mankind in general.

They said King Abdullah through his efforts was fostering stability and peace between people, regardless of their beliefs and cultures.

Inter-faith dialogue

Participants also lauded the Muslim World League's open attitude to international relations, which they said is enabled by King Abdullah's support and his directive to carry out an initiative to promote inter-faith dialogue, which is helping people throughout the world learn more about Islam.

Speakers also called for the establishment of an international institute at the Muslim World League, to be named after King Abdullah which would train preachers and clerics from countries with Muslim minorities so that they would be able to better guide Muslims in their respective countries, correct the distorted image of Islam and share facts about Islam.

They also praised the League's interaction with international organisations such as Unesco and Unicef, and notably the United Nations, for which it has become an observer.

That interaction, they said, has strengthened the Muslim World League's international status and resulted in it receiving the Messenger of Peace award from the UN, in 1985.