"An aggression against a sovereign country, … also represents terrorism against all mankind," Haz

JAKARTA, February 25 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – A three-day international conference of Islamic scholars ended in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 25, with a condemnation of terrorism, U.S. war on Iraq and calls on Muslims to further practice "moderation and tolerance".

"We strongly condemn acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reject the identification of terrorism with any particular religion," said the final statement, dubbed the Jakarta Declaration.

The campaign against terrorism could only be won through comprehensive measures including addressing the root causes such as poverty, injustice and intolerance, said the declaration, carried by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The conference held in the world's largest Muslim-populated nation was attended by some 300 Islamic scholars from 49 countries. It was organized by Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama, and by the government.

Tolerance, Moderation

The statement urged Muslims to have the courage to reform their traditions and to face up the problems affecting modern society. It stressed the need to develop Islamic curricula that promoted peace, tolerance and moderation.

Conference delegates said the backwardness of some Muslim countries, including their women, was due to traditions that were contradictory to the teaching of Islam.

The scholars "support all undertakings to enhance the capacity and the role of women in the Muslim community in accordance with Islamic values for the betterment of mankind".

America's 'Terrorism'

Closing the conference, Indonesian Vice-President Hamzah Haz described the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq as "terrorism against all mankind".

"An aggression against a sovereign country, like that by the United States, Great Britain (and) all their allies against Iraq, is not only against democracy, human rights and humanitarianism but also represents terrorism against all mankind," Haz said.

The conference opened on Monday with stinging attacks by President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Islamic leader Hasyim Muzadi on the U.S.-led invasion. Haz ended the meeting on the same note.

"When the United Nations is no longer able to restrain the yearning of strong states' leaders to kill harmless, innocent (people) and devastate a civilization, I'm very sure that the voice of worldwide Muslim scholars has more value still in the global endeavor to halt the violence by strong countries against the weak," Haz said.

"We do not object to the (world) role played by the United States at this time. However, that role must not be implemented in a repressive way," said Haz, who heads the Nahdlatul Ulama.

"Developing countries only ask fair treatment from the world's policeman," he said.

The Jakarta Declaration also called for dialogue between followers of different faiths and nations. Delegates agreed to establish a secretariat in Jakarta and to meet once every two years, said Muzadi.

Morocco is willing to host the meeting in 2006, Muzadi said.