Forum of religious leaders - call for a dialogue - OIC Deputy Sec Gen

"It is a great pleasure for me to express my appreciation to the President for his invitation to this special meeting devoted to the problem that is very important for building peace based on tolerance, mutual support and respect as well as the role of religious leaders in realization of this task. This meeting is a significant step toward creation of favorable conditions for interaction of civilization and dialog of different religions and cultures", Mr. Salem Al-Khauni emphasized. Within the framework of the religious forum he also answered several question of a Kazinform correspondent.

Spirituality is considered as cultural heritage or spiritual values. Is religion a universal tool of moral development of society and achieving accord among people?

Yes. In positive sense - if religion runs in right direction, it can lead to peace and accord. As all religions are calling on peace and security.

What is the role of leaders of world and traditional religions in settlement of international war conflicts (Kosovo, Iraq, the Middle East)?

This is a complex question. The fact is that the biggest role in these conflicts belongs to politics, political aspect. We have gathered here as leaders of world and traditional religions for the solution of disagreements, which can occur between representatives of different confessions and religions. And the issues of international conflicts are rather of the political origin. However, if the religious aspect is touched in these conflicts, the leaders of world and traditional religions can take part in settlement of such conflicts.

Islamophobia continues to be an issue of great concern. What practical steps has the OIC made to promote trust to Muslims? Is there a paradigm of the common character of the Western and Eastern civilizations?

I hold the post of Deputy Secretary General of the OIC and our organization is interested and takes measures on struggle against this phenomenon, which is called Islamophobia in many countries. Speakers at this congress touched upon the issue of phobia in relation to various religions including Islam. We take measures for combating this phenomenon. Leaders of world and traditional religions also expressed their opinions about it at the congress. In our organization we try to decrease distribution of Islamophobia existing all over the world. Within the framework of the Organization of the Islamic Conference we planned a number of activities - forums, conferences for explication of the true Islam in different countries. OIC Secretary General held a number of meetings with many organizations, including the OSCE, UN sub-organizations, African Union and the League of Arab States as these organizations can play a big role in overcoming this phenomenon. OIC also created a special department that studies measures taken against Islam as well as prevents such negative phenomena.

Recently it was proposed to establish an interreligious body under the UN. What are your thoughts of this proposal ?

There are a lot of analogous initiatives. This initiative is positive and we support its idea to serve to the interreligious consent.

What are your reflections on the statement of Chairman of the Russian Mufti Council Ravil Gaynutdin, who also took part in the religious forum, and who said that "Kazakhstan is an example of preservation of peace between religions and peoples"?

I am grateful to the President of Kazakhstan for the initiative of holding the Congress of World and Traditional Religions' Leaders and people of your beautiful country, which can serve an example of tolerance, respect of other cultures and traditions of different nationalities and confessions. This meeting is a significant step toward creation of favorable conditions for interaction of civilization and dialog of different religions and cultures.

Thank you for the interview. 

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) as a result of criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization's secretary general. Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is the 9^th Secretary General who assumed the office in January 2005 after being elected by the 31^st ICFM.

The present Charter of the Organization was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008 which laid down the objectives and principles of the organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States. Over the last 38 years, the membership has grown from its founding members of 30 to 57 states. The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and have strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against the Muslims in all forms and manifestations.

The Member States of the OIC face many challenges in the 21^st century and to address those challenges, the third extraordinary session of the Islamic Summit held in Makkah in December 2005, laid down the blue print called the Ten-Year Program of Action which envisages joint action of Member States, promotion of tolerance and moderation, modernization, extensive reforms in all spheres of activities including science and technology, education, trade enhancement, and emphasizes good governance and promotion of human rights in the Muslim world, especially with regard to rights of children, women and elderly and the family values enshrined by Islam.