Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, has attended the 2nd Annual Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies in Abu Dhabi.

The opening forum was also attended by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb and Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Forum for Promotion of Peace in Muslim Societies, where more than 350 outstanding scientists, researchers, writers and members of various media in the Islamic world also participated.

The forum will include a series of sessions and workshops with the participation of a group of scientists and thinkers to promote a culture of peace and strengthen efforts to counter extremist ideologies that are contrary to human values and the principles of tolerant Islam, to address the risk of sectarian religious violence that prevails in many Arab and Islamic societies.

The forum will discuss over three days solutions to the issues facing Muslims around the world causing divisions in Muslim societies. The forum aims to encourage the renouncement of violence and lay the foundations of peace everywhere, the rule of ensuring understanding between everyone and is an important initiative to refute extremist ideologies fully by ensuring a true understanding of Islam as a religion of wisdom, compassion and tolerance.

In his opening speech, Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah welcomed the participants and renewed the call to innovate the message of Islam to further elevate the faith of compassion and humanity.

He said that the misleading and false claims by terrorists would be dismantled by true and faithful scholars who adopt a scientific approach.

"Our forum is determined to employ a scientific approach and reason to advance peace and means for life and to advise against the evils of war and destruction and to dispel, through correct interpretations of Islamic texts, the false and baseless claims of those who resort to killing, expulsions and dismissal," he added.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb said in his speech that the Muslim societies need a sincere and critical review of some aspects in the Islamic heritage.

"A clearly defined strategic vision should be agreed upon to let the youth out of the religious and intellectual confusion and to introduce them to the true moral values of the faith," he added.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb thanked the government and the people of the UAE for hosting the forum.

Other speakers included Dr. Ahmed Al Tawfiq, Moroccan minister of endowments, Dr. Samir Al Taqi, director of the Dubai-based Middle East Research Centre, Hamid Awwaluddin, Indonesian justice minister, Dr. Ahmed Al Haddad, director of the Iftaa department in Dubai, Dr. Ahmed Halil, Dr. Redwan Al Sayyed and Dr. Mohammed Imam.
Source: WAM