The Hindu : `Islam and Peace' meet condemns terrorism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

International

International

`Islam and Peace' meet condemns terrorism

TUNIS April 18. An international ``Islam and Peace'' conference has closed in the Tunisian capital with a declaration condemning terrorism and calling for dialogue between the world's different cultures and religions. At its close yesterday, delegates to the conference — organised by Tunisia's Religious Affairs Ministry and the Organisation of Islamic Conferences (OIC) — rejected ``terrorism in all its forms regardless of its basis or justification''.

The ``Tunis Declaration for Peace'' describes the global climate as marked by ``persistent war and aggression and the rule of might, which poses a threat to humanity''. It condemns those who ``consciously or unconsciously'' assimilate Islam with terrorism and violence and calls on thinkers in the western world to block the logic of hegemony and supremacy, rampant in north Atlantic countries.Saying that Islam is a religion based on tolerance and moderation, the declaration rejects barriers of race and religion. Many delegates denounced the cliches and pre-conceptions of Islam in the international media, and one vociferously criticised people in the U.S. who are ``intent on demonising Arabs and Muslims, who fan the flames of misunderstanding and hostility between peoples,'' state-run news paper La Presse said.

Representatives from the Maghreb Arab Union — made up of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia — the Arab Organisation for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO), and Britain, Egypt, France, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Syria and the U.S. took part in the conference. — AFP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International