MADRID: The West and Muslim nations must find solutions to arrest the slide in relations between them, Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday.
Telling the West to understand that Islam is a religion respected for its cultural and religious diversity, Abdullah said the teachings of Islam could not be faulted for the discord between the Muslim world and the West.
“The problems which continue to fester in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Golan Heights, Lebanon and Palestine are vestiges of the projections of power by the centres of world power.
“The resulting humiliation being felt by Muslims is the main cause of their loss of trust and confidence towards the West.
“But we have to acknowledge that finding solutions to these strategic issues have now become intertwined with the problem of managing cultural and civilisational diversity. The way forward for arresting the slide in relations is to resolve these two sets of problems in tandem because they are inter-dependent,” he added.
Telling the West to understand that Islam is a religion respected for its cultural and religious diversity, Abdullah said the teachings of Islam could not be faulted for the discord between the Muslim world and the West.
“The problems which continue to fester in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Golan Heights, Lebanon and Palestine are vestiges of the projections of power by the centres of world power.
“The resulting humiliation being felt by Muslims is the main cause of their loss of trust and confidence towards the West.
“But we have to acknowledge that finding solutions to these strategic issues have now become intertwined with the problem of managing cultural and civilisational diversity. The way forward for arresting the slide in relations is to resolve these two sets of problems in tandem because they are inter-dependent,” he added.
Addressing world leaders and foreign ministers at the First Alliance of Civilisations (AoC) Forum here yesterday, Abdullah said Western governments should not feel uneasy that Muslims were seeking to live in accordance with the principles and values of the Quran and the example set by Prophet Muhammad.
“They should acknowledge that there are civilisations today that continue to uphold religious values in the public sphere even if many Western governments and societies do not.
“Accepting diversity demands an open and accommodative attitude towards religion, and specifically towards religions other than one’s own,” he added.
The Prime Minister said a Muslim who was true to his religious teachings would not separate the principle of accountability from political governance simply because he wanted to perpetuate his power.
“Neither will he subordinate justice to the creation of infinite wealth and defend it in the name of economic growth.
“He will not abdicate the principle of fairness in managing ethnic relations even if it makes him somewhat unpopular within his own ethnic community.”
The AoC was created in 2005 on the initiative of Spain and Turkey under the auspices of the United Nations.
The two-day forum is the first major event of the alliance. It aims to tackle fear and suspicion, bridge gaps and overcome prejudices between Islam and the West.
“They should acknowledge that there are civilisations today that continue to uphold religious values in the public sphere even if many Western governments and societies do not.
“Accepting diversity demands an open and accommodative attitude towards religion, and specifically towards religions other than one’s own,” he added.
The Prime Minister said a Muslim who was true to his religious teachings would not separate the principle of accountability from political governance simply because he wanted to perpetuate his power.
“Neither will he subordinate justice to the creation of infinite wealth and defend it in the name of economic growth.
“He will not abdicate the principle of fairness in managing ethnic relations even if it makes him somewhat unpopular within his own ethnic community.”
The AoC was created in 2005 on the initiative of Spain and Turkey under the auspices of the United Nations.
The two-day forum is the first major event of the alliance. It aims to tackle fear and suspicion, bridge gaps and overcome prejudices between Islam and the West.
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