Summit Calls For Unity Among World's Muslim Community, Condemns Ankara Bomb Attacks

From Harlina Samson ISTANBUL, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- In the wake of rising terror attacks, conflicts in Muslim nations as well as Islamophobia and anti-Muslim actions, the first Asia and Pacific Muslim Religious Leaders' Summit here has called on the Muslim ummah to exert effective efforts for global Muslim unity. In an effort to rejuvenate declining and damaged brotherhood of the Muslim ummah, the summit, the latest bid by the Turkish state-run organisation, Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), also called for continued commitment to enhancing universal brotherhood and the Muslim fraternity. The calls are contained in the summit's 20-point communique issued at the end of the four-day summit on Friday. Diyanet president, Prof Dr Mehmet Gormez, highlighted, among others, that the Turkish government and people shared the grief of the families of those who lost their lives during the horrific suicide bomb attacks in Ankara on Oct 10, which reportedly killed 102 people. The atrocious act of terrorism was vehemently condemned by the 125 Muslim religious leaders and participants from 37 Asia and Pacific countries who attended the summit. As the nation still grieves over the incident, the first-of-its-kind summit for Muslim religious leaders of the Asia-Pacific region stressed that the august principles and norms of Islam would never welcome those who sought to achieve their sinister goals by killing innocent people not only in Turkey but also around the world. "Commanding to act in affection and mercy for all creatures, Islam - the religion of truth - rejects terrorism of any nature no matter who commits it or whatever the motive is. If anyone has killed a person, it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind," said the communique. It was also highlighted that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had reached a dangerous level as a result of recent heinous attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Islam and the Muslim world are currently undergoing one of the most challenging times with violence, terror attacks, conflicts and chaos occurring in various locations including Syria, Iraq, Gaza/Palestine, Afghanistan and Arakan/Myanmar, besides rising anti-Muslim and Islamophobia actions that have cast a shadow upon global peace. Noting that unity in diversity is one of the fundamental pillars to protecting Islam, the summit called on Muslims to set themselves free from any violence and conflicts fed by religious perspectives based on sectarianism and extreme and far-fetched interpretations. In line with the summit's theme of "Unity in Multiplicity: Rethinking 'Wisdom and Peace' Together," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the only way out of the current problems in the Islamic nations was through the adoption of consultation (shura) and unity among the different religious sects. "Leaving out or disregarding consultation underlies most of the problems we face in the Islamic world. This is the reason for the lack of mercy we, as an ummah, experience today. "We cannot talk about unity of the ummah right now. It is in bits and pieces today. These meetings are of great significance in restoring unity of the ummah," said the President at the closing of the summit. As the Turkish Diyanet has succesfully initiated six similar platforms and cooperation with other religious institutions across regions in the world, it has been suggested that the World Muslim Religious Summit be held in Istanbul next year. Meanwhile, Malaysia's religious advisor to the prime minister, Dr Abdullah Muhammad Zin said the Turkish government's initiative of holding the summit was a positive effort towards strengthening cooperation among Muslim nations in the Asia-Pacific region. "Issues besetting Islamic countries and Muslims in the region currently, need to be tackled through discussion and dialogue from time to time. This summit's theme revolving around wisdom and peace is apt as it is line with Islamic teachings which promote well-being of the ummah," he told Bernama. He hoped that Turkey's efforts in championing matters involving Muslims in various parts of the world, such as solving the refugee problem and ending violence and conflicts through negotiations and dialogues, as well as assisting minority Muslims would receive the full support of Muslim countries. -- BERNAMA