UNIPATH STAFF
Religious leaders from 42 countries gathered in Kazakhstan in June 2015 to discuss their role in eliminating terrorism and building peace.
Sheikh Dr. Kahlan Nabhan Al Kharusi, assistant grand mufti of Oman, asked those assembled to offer concrete strategies to help religious leaders end terrorist violence.
“We have to be more ambitious and call for projects and plans and strategies to tackle problems like terrorism, to elevate these recommendations in these societies,” Al Kharusi told the Times of Oman.
His comments were made during the fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana. The goal of the meeting was to promote international dialogue among different faiths and serve as a model of coexistence, tolerance and peace.
“It is important and necessary for us to participate and give our thoughts and share our experiences and to listen, also, to people of other faiths and experiences, get their insights, and see what are the underlying elements of what we are witnessing now of irresponsible extremist all around the world,” Al Kharusi said.
Also in attendance were global figures such as His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan.
“We Muslims are facing a brutal attack by outlaws, Khawarij, who distort our faith to try to justify monstrous crimes,” the King said. “Nothing treats our religion with more contempt and nothing hurts the Muslim people more than the actions of these elements. They agitate sectarianism and sedition. They mislead young people into abandoning their futures. And they franchise their violence worldwide.”
Al Kharusi suggested that to undermine terrorist recruitment, people need to examine factors such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of education and faith in government that leads young people to take up with terrorists. Youth need engagement in thoughtful activities and lessons about true Islam.
Moderation in all aspects of life is an important antidote to extremism, and this is a value Omanis are raised with, Al Kharusi told the Times of Oman. He linked a culture of moderation and tolerance in Oman with the countries environment of peace and stability: “These are probably the elements that are required to prevent youth from joining such extremist groups.”
Sources: Times of Oman, http://www.news.tj, The Jordan Times