Interfaith peace conference: Terrorism is a global problem, say speakers

Clerics belonging to the Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh religions sit together at conference

KARACHI: The Paris attack is an eye-opener that terrorism is a global problem and that extremists want to rule the world.

This was said by Allama Abbas Kumaili, whose organisation, Forum Against Intolerance, Terrorism and Hatred (Faith), organised a 'Religious harmony and peace conference as per teachings of Holy Prophet (pbuh) and Jesus Christ' at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Friday.

Muslim clerics wearing topis, a Sikh with a red turban, a Hindu woman with a tilak and a Christian bishop in purple robes, sat alongside each other to condemn terrorism and stress the need for respect and love among religious communities.

"Terrorism is not a problem of Pakistan alone," said Kumaili. "Terrorists are spreading chaos everywhere from Nigeria to Syria." He stressed the need to form a new Pakistan where everyone will be treated equally and people from all religions can live as brothers.

Bishop Ijaz Inayat was of the view that at a time when extremism is spreading not only in Pakistan but across the world, dialogues like these are the need of the hour. He said that the Peshawar attack has initiated a 'jihad against terrorism and brutality'.

"A holy war has now started as people have come together to wage war against terrorists," he said. He urged the people to stop giving their children to these extremists who train them to become suicide bombers.

Father Pascal Robert said that terrorism cannot be eliminated with terrorism and that we should follow the love and peace message of Jesus Christ.

Hyderabad-based cleric Maulana Masood Jamal raised slogans of 'Muslim Maseehi, bhai bhai' [Muslim Christian, brother brother]. He said that in the current situation, hypocrites such as 'Maulana Diesel' had been exposed as they have a soft corner for the Taliban. He questioned that how many Muslims bothered to read the holy books of other religions and read out the Ten Commandments to the audience.

Appreciating the meeting, Maulana Faisal Azizi said that this was the real face of Pakistan where followers of different religions were sitting together and talking respectfully about each other's faith. "A terrorist can't be a Muslim as Islam preaches peace," he said.

Michael Javed said that Christians are leaving Pakistan and going to countries such as Thailand and Malaysia. "If our country had been run according to Jinnah's vision, there would have been no need to establish military courts," he said.

Representative of the Pakistan Hindu Council, Mangla Sharma, said that the situation is such that now people do not want to sit next to each other when they come to know that they belong to different faiths. "However, it is conferences like these that unite people," she said. "No religion promotes terrorism and religions have nothing to do with it."

Sardar Ramesh Singh who started off with Guru Nanak's verse said that all religions believe in equality. Former deputy speaker Rahila Tiwana praised Allama Abbas Kumaili for holding the conference and raising his voice against terrorism.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.