MUSLIM COMMUNITY MUST PLAY ACTIVE ROLE IN GLOBAL PEACE BUILDING - MWL 

From Noor Azuki Fahme Ismail

MAKKAH, June 13 (Bernama) -- The Muslim community must play an active and effective role in fostering global peace and prosperity, said Muslim World League (MWL) secretary-general, Dr Muhammed Abdulkarim Al-Issa.

He said that one of the approaches is to build 'bridges' of understanding between the East and the West, as currently being undertaken by the MWL.

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Dr Muhammed noted that through this approach, the MWL, in cooperation with the United Nations (UN), had launched the initiative for the conference "Building Bridges of Understanding and Peace between East and West."

"Among the messages conveyed by the MWL at this conference is that Islam calls for peaceful and civilised dialogue.

"As we know, the world is full of differences, whether in terms of religion, ideology, ethnicity or culture. What we need to do is wholeheartedly accept these differences," he said.

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He said this in a meeting with journalists from international news agencies covering this year's Haj pilgrimage, invited by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the MWL headquarters here.

He underscored that differences, if not addressed prudently, could lead to extremist thoughts within communities.

Dr Muhammed added that these differences, if not properly managed, could lead to new issues such as clashes of ideas, misunderstandings, and could escalate into more severe conflicts like wars.

"If we all strive together, I am confident that we can achieve peace and harmony among the global community," he said.

-- BERNAMA