CAIRO,
June 27, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A number of Muslim and Christian
religious leaders, including prominent scholar Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi,
will boycott a Doha-organized interfaith seminar, protesting the
participation of Israeli rabbis.
The
Third Doha Conference for Religious Dialogue will be inaugurated by
Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa A-Thani Wednesday, June 29, with the
participation of 86 Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars, Al-Watan
daily reported Sunday, June 26.
"Sheikh
Qaradawi, who is a renowned scholar, and other Muslim and Christian
religious leaders are against engaging in a dialogue with Israeli Jews
but are not against Judaism as a religion," Dr Aisha Al-Manai,
head of the scientific branch of the organizing committee, told a
recent press conference.
"They
have the right to oppose dialogue with those they believe to be
backing the killing and destruction in Palestine," she said.
"Refusing
to attend the seminar is thus not against Judaism as a religion,"
maintained Al-Manai, dean of the Shari`ah and law faculty at Qatar
University.
"I
can not think of a Muslim or a Christian who opposes dialogue with
Jews per se. Therefore, we, as organizers, have the right to invite
whoever we want and others have the same right not to attend."
Unlike
in the previous two rounds, the Qatari Foreign Ministry has invited
three rabbis from Israel to take part in the two-day interfaith
seminar.
Inviting
Israeli Jewish clerics follows the recommendation of Sheikh Hamad in a
speech read on his behalf at last year's conference.
Two
representatives from the Vatican will join their Anglican and Greek
Orthodox colleagues, Al-Manai said.
In
addition to 29 Christian speakers, seven Jews will be participating in
the conference, she added.
Al-Manai
said the Muslim side will be represented by Dr Yousuf Obaidan from
Qatar University’s political science department.
Common
Grounds
Al-Manai
added Qatar has developed an environment of democracy, freedom of
speech and freedom of dialogue.
"The
idea of hosting such an inter-faith conference was to encourage
dialogue based on democratic principles and promote freedom of speech
and thought".
The
conference will take up means of highlighting common religious values
that contribute to the establishment, enforcement and development of
civilizations.
The
speakers will discuss religion’s role in enhancing human values and
civilized behavior.
They
will also discuss the views of religions in combating superstitions
and myths, and promoting human cooperation, in addition to the
religious diktats on preserving natural resources.
Among
the other subjects will be the vision of religion about family, the
values of justice and equality, the prevalence of peace and
international relations based on mutual respect, and the ethical codes
for scientific research.
The
two previous inter-religious dialogue conferences were arranged by the
Anglican and Catholic churches.
This
year the event is being organized by the Faculty of Shari`ah at Qatar
University and its sessions will be opened and not in-camera.
