this coming from the leader of a country where women aren't allowed to drive, or to walk without a scarf in public... i hate this kind of crap
Abdullah: Extremists have hijacked Islam
Saudi king urges muslim leaders to unite and combat radicalism
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah appealed to Muslim leaders on Wednesday to unite and tackle extremists who he said have hijacked their religion. At a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) - the world's biggest Muslim body - in the holy city of Mecca, Abdullah said the world's 1 billion Muslims were weak and divided, a description echoed by other leaders.
"It bleeds the heart of a believer to see how this glorious civilization has fallen from the height of glory to the ravine of frailty and how its thoughts were hijacked by devilish and criminal gangs that spread havoc on earth," Abdullah said.
U.S. critics have blamed the kingdom's strict Wahhabi school of Islam for fostering extremism but Saudi officials say they are tackling the militants through a tough security crackdown and a campaign to win over militant sympathizers.
The two-day summit, convened on Wednesday to address what Abdullah said were grave dangers facing the Muslim nation.
He called upon the Islamic jurisprudence arm of the OIC to "fulfill its historic role of combating extremism."
Abdullah called for greater educational efforts to promote tolerance. "Developing the curriculum is essential to building a tolerant Muslim identity ... and to having a society that rejects isolation," he said.
"We don't have the luxury of blaming others for our own problems," OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddine Ihsanoglu said in a speech which also portrayed the Muslim world confronting one of "the most critical eras of its history".
"We should fight terrorism by dealing with its roots and causes, whether committed by individuals, groups or states," Ihsanoglu said. "Terrorism is a crime that every Muslim should fight."
"The future of humanity depends on this part of the world," Ihsanoglu said. "What is going on in the Islamic world has dire consequences elsewhere." "Lack of moderation is one of the main sources of instability and chaos in the modern world," the OIC secretary general said.
He stressed the need to combat poverty, illiteracy and corruption in the Muslim world, saying that "when these issues are not addressed properly by legitimate means, they are used as an excuse to push for extreme agendas."
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also issued a solemn warning, saying Muslims across the world were in a state of "disunity and discord" worse than at any time in 14 centuries of Islamic history.
"Thousands of our brothers and sisters in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and Sudan and similar places, are living in fear under threats of war and violence," he said. "Many more are living under threats of poverty and backwardness."
Iran faces U.S. pressure over Tehran's nuclear plans while Syria faces pressure over the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister. Several impoverished Asian and African states were also attending the talks in Mecca.
Algerian presidential representative, Abdel-Aziz Belkhadem, said reform of the OIC's charter had not been updated in 36 years, adding: "The current era is full of challenges and Muslim nations must rise to meet these challenges".
Among noted absentees were Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Mecca gathering aims to encourage political and social reform in Muslim countries by endorsing a 10-year plan for better education, faster economic development, more trade, religious moderation, and more rights for Muslim women.
It will also try to breathe new life into the OIC, which has been largely ineffectual since it was set up 36 years ago with the stated aim of recovering East Jerusalem from Israeli occupation after the 1967 Middle East War.
The Islamic leaders are also expected to approve a name change for the body to become the Organization of Islamic Countries. - Agencies
source
Abdullah: Extremists have hijacked Islam
Saudi king urges muslim leaders to unite and combat radicalism
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah appealed to Muslim leaders on Wednesday to unite and tackle extremists who he said have hijacked their religion. At a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) - the world's biggest Muslim body - in the holy city of Mecca, Abdullah said the world's 1 billion Muslims were weak and divided, a description echoed by other leaders.
"It bleeds the heart of a believer to see how this glorious civilization has fallen from the height of glory to the ravine of frailty and how its thoughts were hijacked by devilish and criminal gangs that spread havoc on earth," Abdullah said.
U.S. critics have blamed the kingdom's strict Wahhabi school of Islam for fostering extremism but Saudi officials say they are tackling the militants through a tough security crackdown and a campaign to win over militant sympathizers.
The two-day summit, convened on Wednesday to address what Abdullah said were grave dangers facing the Muslim nation.
He called upon the Islamic jurisprudence arm of the OIC to "fulfill its historic role of combating extremism."
Abdullah called for greater educational efforts to promote tolerance. "Developing the curriculum is essential to building a tolerant Muslim identity ... and to having a society that rejects isolation," he said.
"We don't have the luxury of blaming others for our own problems," OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddine Ihsanoglu said in a speech which also portrayed the Muslim world confronting one of "the most critical eras of its history".
"We should fight terrorism by dealing with its roots and causes, whether committed by individuals, groups or states," Ihsanoglu said. "Terrorism is a crime that every Muslim should fight."
"The future of humanity depends on this part of the world," Ihsanoglu said. "What is going on in the Islamic world has dire consequences elsewhere." "Lack of moderation is one of the main sources of instability and chaos in the modern world," the OIC secretary general said.
He stressed the need to combat poverty, illiteracy and corruption in the Muslim world, saying that "when these issues are not addressed properly by legitimate means, they are used as an excuse to push for extreme agendas."
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also issued a solemn warning, saying Muslims across the world were in a state of "disunity and discord" worse than at any time in 14 centuries of Islamic history.
"Thousands of our brothers and sisters in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and Sudan and similar places, are living in fear under threats of war and violence," he said. "Many more are living under threats of poverty and backwardness."
Iran faces U.S. pressure over Tehran's nuclear plans while Syria faces pressure over the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister. Several impoverished Asian and African states were also attending the talks in Mecca.
Algerian presidential representative, Abdel-Aziz Belkhadem, said reform of the OIC's charter had not been updated in 36 years, adding: "The current era is full of challenges and Muslim nations must rise to meet these challenges".
Among noted absentees were Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Mecca gathering aims to encourage political and social reform in Muslim countries by endorsing a 10-year plan for better education, faster economic development, more trade, religious moderation, and more rights for Muslim women.
It will also try to breathe new life into the OIC, which has been largely ineffectual since it was set up 36 years ago with the stated aim of recovering East Jerusalem from Israeli occupation after the 1967 Middle East War.
The Islamic leaders are also expected to approve a name change for the body to become the Organization of Islamic Countries. - Agencies
source
