Scholars Shun Interfaith Seminar Over Israeli Participation
CAIRO,
June 27, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A number of Muslim and
Christian religious leaders, including prominent scholar
Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, will boycott a Doha-organized
interfaith seminar, protesting the participation of Israeli
rabbis.
The
Third Doha Conference for Religious Dialogue will be
inaugurated by Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa A-Thani
Wednesday, June 29, with the participation of 86 Muslim,
Christian and Jewish scholars, Al-Watan daily
reported Sunday, June 26.
"Sheikh Qaradawi, who is a renowned scholar, and other
Muslim and Christian religious leaders are against engaging
in a dialogue with Israeli Jews but are not against Judaism
as a religion," Dr Aisha Al-Manai, head of the scientific
branch of the organizing committee, told a recent press
conference.
"They
have the right to oppose dialogue with those they believe to
be backing the killing and destruction in Palestine," she
said.
"Refusing to attend the seminar is thus not against Judaism
as a religion," maintained Al-Manai, dean of the Shari`ah
and law faculty at Qatar University.
"I can
not think of a Muslim or a Christian who opposes dialogue
with Jews per se. Therefore, we, as organizers, have the
right to invite whoever we want and others have the same
right not to attend."
Unlike
in the previous two rounds, the Qatari Foreign Ministry has
invited three rabbis from Israel to take part in the two-day
interfaith seminar.
Inviting Israeli Jewish clerics follows the recommendation
of Sheikh Hamad in a speech read on his behalf at last
year's conference.
Two
representatives from the Vatican will join their Anglican
and Greek Orthodox colleagues, Al-Manai said.
In
addition to 29 Christian speakers, seven Jews will be
participating in the conference, she added.
Al-Manai said the Muslim side will be represented by Dr
Yousuf Obaidan from Qatar University’s political science
department.
Common Grounds
Al-Manai added Qatar has developed an environment of
democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of dialogue.
"The
idea of hosting such an inter-faith conference was to
encourage dialogue based on democratic principles and
promote freedom of speech and thought".
The
conference will take up means of highlighting common
religious values that contribute to the establishment,
enforcement and development of civilizations.
The
speakers will discuss religion’s role in enhancing human
values and civilized behavior.
They
will also discuss the views of religions in combating
superstitions and myths, and promoting human cooperation, in
addition to the religious diktats on preserving natural
resources.
Among
the other subjects will be the vision of religion about
family, the values of justice and equality, the prevalence
of peace and international relations based on mutual
respect, and the ethical codes for scientific research.
The
two previous inter-religious dialogue conferences were
arranged by the Anglican and Catholic churches.
This
year the event is being organized by the Faculty of Shari`ah
at Qatar University and its sessions will be opened and not
in-camera.
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