AMMAN,
July 3, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Muslim
scholars, thinkers and historians from across the globe will discuss,
during an international conference to be hosted by Amman on Monday,
July 3, means of spreading Islam's universal message of tolerance and
civility.
The
True Islam and its Role in Modern Society conference will also address
challenges encountering Muslims and obstacles facing Islam, reported
Agence France Presse (AFP) quoting organizers.
The
four-day meeting, organized by the Jordanian ministry of religions
affairs, will further tackled Islam's stance on extremism, terrorism,
reform and human rights.
The
status of woman in Muslim society, the Islamic way of achieving
comprehensive development and the contribution of Muslims in the human
civilization will also top the participants' agenda.
Distorted
Image
Muslim
activists, who flocked to the Jordanian capital to attend the
conference, described it as a golden chance to project a moderate and
modern image of Islam, reported the Jordanian news agency, Petra.
"The
meeting seeks to strengthen ties between Muslim nations and bolster
efforts in dealing with problems facing Muslims around the
world," said Roshan Abbasov, the head of foreign relations at the
Russian Federation's shura council.
Anas
Shaqfeh of the Austrian Arab Muslim Council maintained that the
challenges facing the Muslim world, such as associating Islam with
terrorism, necessitate that Muslim scholars promote interfaith
dialogue.
Mahmoud
Reeh of the Libyan International Islamic Missionary Society said the
meeting is held in the right time to confront the unfair campaigns
against Islam and Muslims around the world.
He
added that specialized media outlets should be established to serve
the purpose “with reason and calm dialogue.”
The
cancer of Islamophobia has spread across the United States and Europe
since the 9/11 attacks.
A
recent report released by the International Helsinki Federation for
Human Rights (IHF) said Muslim minorities across Europe have been
experiencing growing distrust, hostility and discrimination since the
attacks.
The
United Nations Commission on Human Rights adopted on April 12, a
resolution calling for combating defamation campaigns against Islam
and Muslims in the West.
Addressing
an anti-Islamophobia seminar on January 13, UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan called for halting increasing harassment and discrimination
against Muslims.
“Since
the September 11 attacks on the US, many Muslims, particularly in the
West, have found themselves the objects of suspicion, harassment and
discrimination.”
