Islamic Unity Conference Starts in Tehran
Source: alalam.ir, 05-05-2008
TEHRAN-The 21st International Conference on Islamic Unity has kicked off in the
Iranian capital with 850 thinkers and intellectuals from 45 countries taking part.
Head of Iran's Experts Assembly Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said the distinguished religious scholars and professors of the Muslim world must be brave in forging unity among Muslims.
Addressing the conference Sunday themed "Charter of Islamic Unity", Rafsanjani stressed that today the need for forging unity among Muslims is much higher than in the past.
"We are duty-bound to work for consolidating Islamic unity and settling disputes among Muslims," he said.
Rafsanjani, who is also chairman of State Expediency Council (SEC), opined that presently the Muslim world is in a miserable condition due to the serious discord among Muslims.
"Today we are witness to religious-oriented clashes and disputes in Iraq and Afghanistan," Rafsanjani said.
He added: "Due to the intensification of disputes, the people of Lebanon cannot even choose a president. Furthermore, there is no sustainable stability and security in Pakistan, which is a big Islamic state, due to religious differences."
The senior Iranian official lambasted some officials of Muslim countries for dragging their feet on implementing Islamic directives, including respect for the public votes.
"When Muslim youth see that there is freedom of choice in non-Muslim countries, but no parliamentary elections in their own country they feel humiliated. We must respect the people's choices and seek their views. Consulting is one of the most fundamental Islamic tenets," he said.
He also warned against ignoring women's rights.
"The arrogant world powers criticize some Islamic countries for not observing women's right. We should not allow women's rights be violated because of some baseless accusations that have gradually penetrated into the Islamic world. There should be no prejudices in the society," he said.
The Iranian cleric denounced superstitions that have entered the realm of Islam in the wake of the machinations of 'Israelis' and arrogant powers.
"It is necessary that Islamic scholars and professors distinguish such unacceptable thoughts from genuine Islam," he said.
Touching on the discord between Shiite Muslim and Sunni Muslim scholars, Rafsanjani said, "This dispute has spread in the Muslim community like a virus."
He asked: "Why should some permit themselves to focus on historical disputes that are of no use to Muslims? The discord cannot be removed by the mass media, but it is the duty of religious scholars to settle it in an effective manner."
"The crude and faulty thoughts of a Muslim in Iraq reach a point where he describes himself as a freedom fighter and then carries out a suicide attack in a mosque where Muslims are praying, kills many Muslims and naively thinks that he will go to heaven. Such faulty thinking is the main dilemma facing the Islamic world and must be resolved," he said.
Rafsanjani criticized some Muslim leaders for their cooperation with the Zionist regime.
"They (some Muslim leaders) are not willing to conclude economic accords with regional Muslim countries, but they make friends with those who are Islam's steadfast enemies," he said.
He emphasized that the weaknesses of the enemies of Islam are more than those of Islamic states.
"We should not think that only Muslim countries have disputes. In fact, the disputes among Western countries are more serious, but they are smart enough to hide them," he said.
Rafsanjani pointed out that the presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) forces in Afghanistan and the US forces in Iraq, Persian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent is dangerous for regional Muslim countries and the whole world.
Promoting unity and solidarity in the Muslim world and bringing closer cultural and scientific views are major goals of the conference.
The Islamic unity charter, which has so far been signed by over 2,000 Muslim intellectuals and scholars, will be discussed by the delegates.
TEHRAN-The 21st International Conference on Islamic Unity has kicked off in the
Iranian capital with 850 thinkers and intellectuals from 45 countries taking part.
Head of Iran's Experts Assembly Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said the distinguished religious scholars and professors of the Muslim world must be brave in forging unity among Muslims.
Addressing the conference Sunday themed "Charter of Islamic Unity", Rafsanjani stressed that today the need for forging unity among Muslims is much higher than in the past.
"We are duty-bound to work for consolidating Islamic unity and settling disputes among Muslims," he said.
Rafsanjani, who is also chairman of State Expediency Council (SEC), opined that presently the Muslim world is in a miserable condition due to the serious discord among Muslims.
"Today we are witness to religious-oriented clashes and disputes in Iraq and Afghanistan," Rafsanjani said.
He added: "Due to the intensification of disputes, the people of Lebanon cannot even choose a president. Furthermore, there is no sustainable stability and security in Pakistan, which is a big Islamic state, due to religious differences."
The senior Iranian official lambasted some officials of Muslim countries for dragging their feet on implementing Islamic directives, including respect for the public votes.
"When Muslim youth see that there is freedom of choice in non-Muslim countries, but no parliamentary elections in their own country they feel humiliated. We must respect the people's choices and seek their views. Consulting is one of the most fundamental Islamic tenets," he said.
He also warned against ignoring women's rights.
"The arrogant world powers criticize some Islamic countries for not observing women's right. We should not allow women's rights be violated because of some baseless accusations that have gradually penetrated into the Islamic world. There should be no prejudices in the society," he said.
The Iranian cleric denounced superstitions that have entered the realm of Islam in the wake of the machinations of 'Israelis' and arrogant powers.
"It is necessary that Islamic scholars and professors distinguish such unacceptable thoughts from genuine Islam," he said.
Touching on the discord between Shiite Muslim and Sunni Muslim scholars, Rafsanjani said, "This dispute has spread in the Muslim community like a virus."
He asked: "Why should some permit themselves to focus on historical disputes that are of no use to Muslims? The discord cannot be removed by the mass media, but it is the duty of religious scholars to settle it in an effective manner."
"The crude and faulty thoughts of a Muslim in Iraq reach a point where he describes himself as a freedom fighter and then carries out a suicide attack in a mosque where Muslims are praying, kills many Muslims and naively thinks that he will go to heaven. Such faulty thinking is the main dilemma facing the Islamic world and must be resolved," he said.
Rafsanjani criticized some Muslim leaders for their cooperation with the Zionist regime.
"They (some Muslim leaders) are not willing to conclude economic accords with regional Muslim countries, but they make friends with those who are Islam's steadfast enemies," he said.
He emphasized that the weaknesses of the enemies of Islam are more than those of Islamic states.
"We should not think that only Muslim countries have disputes. In fact, the disputes among Western countries are more serious, but they are smart enough to hide them," he said.
Rafsanjani pointed out that the presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) forces in Afghanistan and the US forces in Iraq, Persian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent is dangerous for regional Muslim countries and the whole world.
Promoting unity and solidarity in the Muslim world and bringing closer cultural and scientific views are major goals of the conference.
The Islamic unity charter, which has so far been signed by over 2,000 Muslim intellectuals and scholars, will be discussed by the delegates.
Iran Downs 52nd US MQ-9 Drone over Qeshm Island
one month ago
