July 26, 2004

Staff Reporter
BERNARD Canovic, representative of the Jewish Institutions Council in France, has called for setting up a “new global model” based on the common understanding among Islam, Christianity and Judaism as there are many common factors in these religions.
He reiterated at the inaugural session of the ‘Third Dialogue of Religions’ at the Four Seasons Hotel yesterday that continuous dialogues would help the upcoming generations to live in peace.  Archbishop Johanna Thabet Qolta of Egypt, who is also chairman of the Middle East Council of Churches, said that believers have to conduct continuous dialogue for a peaceful co-existence. “Otherwise, there is no future for any of them,” he said.
The archbishop said that by conducting dialogue with others, one gets the chance to explain and defend his religion. “One who refuses to engage in a dialogue with other religions is like a man who looks at facts with one eye,” he said.
“It helps in searching for common areas on the spiritual, ethical, and humanitarian level. It may take long years but eventually it helps.
“The biggest irony is that some people who claim they worship and love God refuse to respect others and in some cases try to suppress them,” the bishop said.
Professor Ali Mohieddin al-Qaradaghi, head of the Jurisprudence and Religion Department, Faculty of Shariah, Qatar University, said that Islam urges the faithful to find common ground among themselves.
He said that Muslims have been ordained to believe in the prophets and the holy books.
Professor al-Qaradaghi said that the three religions can agree on one God, ethics, values such as justice and equality and the unity of family, in addition to fighting poverty and illiteracy.
He said that though conflicts exist, Islam never advocates harm to others, except in the case of aggression and invasion.
“Islam is the religion of mercy, which is the basis of communication between different people.”
Al-Qaradaghi said that Islam denounces terrorism, violence and intimidation. “However, one has to differentiate between terrorism and the right of resistance against occupation, which is mentioned in all religions and international treaties.”
He said that what is happening in the Islamic world today is mainly because of injustice, tyranny, and occupation.
“The Muslims and Christians in Palestine have been victims of injustice for more than half a century,” he said.
Al-Qaradaghi reminded the delegates that there are “terrorists” among the followers of other religions as well.
“The key to the solution lies in ending Israeli injustice and returning the rights of the Palestinian people and trying to solve their problems. “The powers of the world should change their attitude towards Iraq and Palestine, politically and socially,” al-Qaradaghi reiterated.