Provide Value-Based Glue To Hold Communities Together - Ban Ki-Moon

From Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad ASTANA (Kazakhstan), June 11 (Bernama) -- In times of turmoil, religious leaders can provide a value-based glue to hold communities together and provide common ground for peace-making and problem solving, says United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. He said it could be done by fostering dialogue by using spiritual authority to encourage individuals to act humanely, and by promoting shared values as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and as reflected in the teachings of all world religions. "The world’s religious leaders must teach their followers the true meaning of reconciliation, understanding and mutual respect. "Religious leaders have an obligation to speak out when so-called adherents of their faith commit crimes in its name. All should know that crimes committed in the name of religion are crimes against religion," he said during The V Congress of The Leaders of World and Traditional Religions here Wednesday. The congress was officially open by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Ban said the world saw violent extremism expressed most vividly in atrocities committed by Da’esh, Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, Al Qaeda and other sectarian and terrorist groups. "It is not religion that causes violence. It is individuals who choose to espouse violence, wrongfully and cynically invoking faith in doing so. "The scourge of violence in the name of religion calls for concerted action by governments, religious communities, civil society and the media," he said. Meanwhile, he praised Nazarbayev and Kazakhstan's efforts in organising the congress because he said that a harmonious society could never be taken for granted. "Thank you, for your timely initiative to promote a much-needed dialogue between religious and political leaders from around the world to enhance understanding and build a culture of cooperation and mutual respect. "The mixing of people and communities is not simply a noble aspiration in this part of the world. It is your history, it has made you who you are defining the region and enriching the world," said Ban. Initiated by Nazarbayev, the first Congress was held 2003. -- BERNAMA