ISLAMABAD: The secretary general of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, said on Monday the organization was establishing a forum to start religious diplomacy with the aim of promoting interfaith harmony and peace in the world, saying a conference would be held in Riyadh this year for this purpose.
The MWL is an International Islamic non-government organization based in Makkah that aims to spread the true message of Islam and advance moderate values that promote peace and tolerance. Its secretary-general is visiting Pakistan until October 14.
On Monday, during a special investiture ceremony, President Dr. Arif Alvi conferred the second-highest civil award in Pakistan, the Hilal-e-Pakistan, on Al-Issa in recognition of his services in strengthening relations between the two countries as well as for promoting scholarships for Pakistani students at Saudi educational institutions and peace and harmony in the world.
“We have started religious diplomacy to promote interfaith harmony and peace in the world,” Al-Issa said at a separate event organized by the Pakistan Ulema Council where he met with, and addressed, scholars and leaders from different religions.
An international conference was organized by MWL in Riyadh in May last year for this purpose, the secretary general said.
“We have taken a few initiatives at the Riyadh conference. One of the initiatives is to establish a forum for religious diplomacy and another is preparing an international encyclopedia containing common things between humans,” the secretary-general said.
Addressing the event, Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, said the main aim of the visit of the MWL secretary general was to strengthen and enhance bilateral relations between the two brotherly Islamic countries.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a relationship like the soul and body and the relations between two countries have flourished throughout history,” Al-Malki said, adding that the kingdom had always stood with Pakistan.
Pakistan’s religious affairs minister, Mufti Abdul Shakoor, said the MWL secretary-general was playing a “very important role” in promoting peace and harmony in the world.
“MWL always remained at the forefront in helping Pakistani people, especially in crises like earthquakes and floods,” he added.
Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, said Pakistan had recognized the work and services of the MWL general secretary by conferring the Hilal-e-Pakistan award on him.
“On behalf of religious scholars, we thank the MWL secretary general for his visit and services to Pakistan,” he added.
Earlier, the MWL secretary-general met with President Alvi and discussed Islamophobia and other challenges faced by the Muslim world.
According to a statement issued by the president's office, Alvi called Islamophobia one of the biggest challenges being faced by Muslims and stressed on the need to ease the fears of the world regarding Islam.
“Islamophobia needs to be countered and eliminated through peaceful and harmonious actions in the Islamic world by holding inter-faith conferences, dialogues, and meetings to exchange ideas with religious scholars and leaders of other religions to explain the real message of Islam,” Alvi was quoted as saying in the statement.
The president appreciated the MWL’s efforts for the welfare of the Muslim World, especially its work in setting up vocational education and training centers, provision of water, and renovation and construction of mosques and religious institutions.
The statement said Al-Issa commended Pakistan’s efforts against Islamophobia at different international forums, including the United Nations, which this year unanimously adopted a “landmark resolution” introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
