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I.P.O. Information Service |
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Baku, Azerbaijan, 10 November 2001/P/RE/17341c-is An
international conference was held earlier this week in Baku, capital of
Azerbaijan, on the theme “Islam and Terror Are Incompatible.” The
meeting was organized upon the initiative of the Supreme
Religious Council of the People of the Caucasus and the Caucasian
Muslim Department. The purpose of the conference was to analyze
Islam’s attitude towards terrorism, to make a comprehensive evaluation
of the recent developments, and to discuss ways of enhancing
co-operation between Muslim organizations in the Caucasus with the aim
of achieving peace and stability in the region. The Chairman of the Caucasian Muslim Department and Head of the Supreme Religious Council of the People of the Caucasus, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshyukyur Pashazade, said in his introductory speech that the Muslim world regretted the tragedy in New York and Washington on 11 September and that all Muslim states condemned those terrorist acts. “Despite this, some writers and political activists in the West are trying to portray Islam as almost synonymous to terrorism. This is the result of a misunderstanding which has the most profound influence on the development of global culture and traditions of humanism. We consider it as a purposefully one-sided approach to the problem,” Sheikh Allahshyukyur Pashazade stated. In his opinion, it cannot be denied that there are certain energies amongst Muslims as well as in the other religions which would resort to terror using their faith as a cover. However, in Sheikh Pashazade’s view, those Muslims who would do that fail to understand the peace-loving and humanistic nature of Islam, and so misled are those who accuse Islam of extremism and terrorism. “The religion that calls for justice, brotherhood, mercy and good relations between people cannot be viewed as something that provokes violence and violation of the internationally adopted and acclaimed norms. Islam and terrorism are incompatible.” The conference was attended by the muftis from Ingushetiya, Daghestan, Chechnya, Karachayevo-Cherkesiya, Kabardino-Balkariya, North Osetiya-Alaniya, Adigeya and the Krasnodar and Stavropol provinces in Russia, as well as by religious scholars and intellectuals from Azerbaijan. The President of the International Progress Organization, Dr. Hans Koechler, yesterday concluded his information visit to Azerbaijan. At the conclusion of his visit, the Baku Declaration on Global Dialogue and Peaceful Co-existence among Nations and the Threats Posed by International Terrorism was issued. The text of the declaration will be released by the I.P.O. Information Service separately. END/”Islam
and Terrorism Are Incompatible”/10-11-01/P/RE/17341c-is
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