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"Such
dialogue can’t undo what has been done by politics and
differences should have a political rather than a religious
solution," said Tamimi.
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By
Adel Abdel Halim, IOL Correspondent
CAIRO,
October 2, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The current spree of inter-faith
forums cannot bridge the gap between the West and the Muslim world as
differences are basically political and not religious, leading Muslim
intellectuals and scholars have agreed.
"The
West wrongfully thinks that interfaith dialogues could relax the
strained and marred relations with the Muslim world," Azzam Al-Tamimi,
the director of the London-based Islamic Political Thought Institute,
told IslamOnline.net.
He
said "intensifying" such dialogues by the West leaves the
impression that the current standoff between both sides is
religion-oriented, though it has everything to do with politics.
"Such
dialogue can’t undo what has been done by politics and differences
should have a political rather than a religious solution," added
the Palestinian-born intellectual.
From
Cairo to Rome, a series of inter-faith dialogues were held only over
the past ten days.
They
were culminated Friday, September 30, in Rome with a two-day
conference on food traditions in the three monotheistic religions.
The
Turkish capital Istanbul on September 25-27 hosted the "Alliance
of Civilizations" conference, which drew scathing criticism from
Islamists and some opposition parties.
In
Jordan, a five-day seminar on the common ground between religions
wrapped up on September 22 under the auspices of the US Institute of
Peace (UIP).
Trap
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Elwani
said intensifying inter-faith dialogues aimed at "putting
Muslims on the defensive".
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Tamimi
charged that the West was "trapping" Muslims into taking
critical stands and making concession on key political issues without
addressing the root cause of the problem.
"I
urge Muslims not to take part in any inter-faith dialogue unless it is
based on a clear agenda and a set of goals."
Taha
Jabir Al-Elwani, the chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of North
America (ISCNA), added that this kind of dialogue was designed to
appease anti-West feeling prevailing across the Muslim world over the
US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
He
said that such intense dialogues were aimed at "putting Muslims
on the defensive."
Al-Elwani
added: "Dialogues, when the power balance is disproportionate in
favor of the West, are nothing but a bid to convince Muslims of
normalizing relations and achieve the West's agenda."
Ambassador
Nabil Badr, a former Egyptian assistant foreign minister, agreed.
He
said the West wants to "contain" Muslim anger at
"aggressions by the West on Muslim countries and peoples."
He
maintained that intensifying inter-faith dialogues aims "at
concealing the interest factor which still largely controls world
affairs."
The
diplomat said that instead Muslims, particularly the Sunnis and the
Shiites, should talk to one another, to clear up some religious
differences.
"We
will not be in a weak position and will be confident in our dialogue
with the West if we become united."
Beneficial
But
Sheikh Fawzi El-Zefzaf, the chairman of Al-Azhar’s Committee of
Inter-faith Dialogue, sees a positive side in the plethora of
dialogues.
"They
are an ample opportunity for Muslims to clear stereotypes on Islam and
a way to reach out to the other," he said.
The
Cairo-based Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim
world, welcomed an initiative by US Undersecretary of State for
Diplomacy Karen Hughes to activate cooperation between religions in
combating terrorism.
Pope
Benedict XVI is scheduled to deliver a message on Islamic-Christian
ties and inter-faith dialogue on Tuesday, October 4, in Paris before
the annual conference of United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The
conference itself, which marks the organization’s 60th
birthday, is dedicated to the dialogue between religions and
cultures.
