Istanbul Initiative Meeting Kick Off In Doha

Doha, March 24 (QNA) - Activities of the Doha executive meeting to promote religious freedom and inter-religious cooperation in the framework of the follow-up initiative of " Istanbul 16/18 to combat intolerance and discrimination based on religion ) at Marriott Hotel Doha here on Monday.    The meeting brings together representatives of 50 countries who will discuss a host of issues concerned with the principle of religious freedom for all including the religious minorities from the perspective of cooperation between religions as well as discussing experiences and national frameworks on religious freedom and the combating discrimination and religious intolerance and displaying the best national and local experiences to practice and protect religious freedom . They will also present attitudes and experiences of the governments and religious dialogue institutions in the environments that represent major challenges for the protection of religious freedom. In his keynote opening address, Dr. Ibrahim Bin Saleh Al-Nuaimi , the Board Chairman of Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue , said that the current international circumstances make it difficult for the scholars and men of religion and impose grand obligations and responsibilities to face the flood of hatred and aversion and work hard to build culture of dialogue and peace and promote chances for religious dialogue and religious freedom for all spectrum of the society locally and globally. The Istanbul Initiative for promoting religious freedom and inter-religious dialogue , being held in Doha today , Monday, has its new own important and necessary message to build a solid common ground to promote dialogue and build understanding and confidence between people of different faiths, Dr. Al Nuaimi noted. The Board Chairman of Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue Al Nuaimi expressed thanks to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its Secretary General for this initiative and hoped it, the initiative, would achieve its noble objectives. He also thanked Rashad Hussain , the Special Representave of the United States to the OIC who initiated last year to approach the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue on this meeting. Dr. Al-Nuaimi also thanked the Islamic Society of North America and members of the organizing committee for their efforts to prepare for that meeting and put forward the themes of research papers and choosing the men of research. It is noted that Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) launched what they called the "Istanbul Process" which combats Intolerance, Discrimination, and Violence Based on Religion or Belief. Their initiative was a joint project of the OIC and the USA, and was intended to bring Western nations (especially the USA) into compliance with UN Resolution 16/18, which aims to "combat intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against persons based on religion and belief." For his part, Iyad bin Amin Madani, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has warned against the rise of religious intolerance and the disasters that could then emerge , stressing meantime in his speech before the opening session of the meeting that combating discrimination and religious intolerance would remain the major challenge in these days, so that such practices would not produce serious and grave implications for undermining the cohesion of communities and on peace and security.    Manadi pointed out that such intolerance was reflected, for example, in the so-called "Islamophobia " or hatred of Islam, the matter which has caused many painful problems for many people in many areas such as Myanmar and Central Africa. He further said that the meeting of the Istanbul initiative came in time to ensure a commitment process to follow up the implementation of resolution 16/18 and to hold conferences as it is today under the umbrella of the aforesaid initiative. The OIC chief conveyed thanks to the State of Qatar for hosting this meeting, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation in the fight against intolerance and discrimination on the basis of religion. (END)