Religious leadership must play active role in ending wars, global peace: Ashrafi

Says leadership of all religions must jointly strengthen narrative of peace, justice

Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and Secretary General of the International Tazeem-e-Harmain Sharifain Council, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, on Monday called for an active, effective and joint role by global religious leadership to establish lasting peace, end wars and conflicts, and protect innocent humanity from violence, terrorism and extremism.

Speaking to the media in London, Ashrafi said the prevailing global situation was extremely alarming. He said the situation in Palestine, the current situation in the Gulf, the Kashmir issue, ongoing wars in some African countries and the targeting of innocent people by violent and extremist movements constituted a serious challenge to humanity.

“In such circumstances, global religious leadership cannot remain a mere spectator. It must come forward and play a practical role in ending war, violence, terrorism and extremism and in promoting negotiations and dialogue,” he said.

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Ashrafi said followers of all religions, including Islam, believe that the fundamental teachings of their faiths are based on peace, love, justice, respect for human life and peaceful coexistence. “Those who kill or target innocent people in the name of religion neither serve religion nor can they be regarded as true representatives of any faith,” he said.

He said the leadership of all religions must jointly strengthen the narrative of peace, justice and respect for humanity in the face of war, hatred, terrorism and extremism. “The solution to the conflicts facing the world does not lie in more wars and violence, but in negotiations, dialogue, justice and respect for international law,” he said.

Ashrafi said in pursuit of this objective, the Pakistan Ulema Council’s leadership had initiated consultations and contacts with prominent religious leaders from different faiths around the world. He said the purpose of the initiative was to unite global religious leadership around an effective joint voice and practical struggle for peace and the protection of humanity.

“Positive results of this consultative process will emerge soon, and global religious leadership from different faiths will play a strong and united role in ending wars and conflicts, protecting oppressed and innocent humanity, combating terrorism and extremism, and establishing global peace,” he added.