Closer Europe-Islamic world relations urged<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\ncalled yesterday for closer cooperation and understanding between
\nEurope and the Moslem world to improve relations.<\/p>\n
\"This is a subject of great importance to Islam and the
\nMoslems, for the European perception of Islam and its followers
\nwill always have repercussions in the Moslem world,\" he said at a
\nMalaysia-European Union joint seminar on Islam.<\/p>\n
The 72-year-old leader said Europe's perception of the Islamic
\nworld has not changed much since the religion first became known
\nto them.<\/p>\n
\"For a very long time, they actually refused to believe that
\nIslam was a monotheistic religion like Christianity. They called
\nthem 'Muhammadans' and regard the Moslems as the worshipers of
\nMuhammad along with two other Greek gods,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Moslems, on the other hand, have not made any headway in
\nEurope, he said, adding that if at all, their relations with the
\nEuropeans were worse than before.<\/p>\n
\"After the end of the Cold War, confrontation between Europe
\nand the rest of the world seemed to be confined to Moslems and
\nMoslem countries.\"<\/p>\n
Mahathir said if the Europeans could learn to accept the Jews
\nand Judaism, it was also possible for them to tolerate Islam and
\nMoslems.<\/p>\n
\"Do we need a holocaust to trigger this change? Isn't the
\nmassacre of 200,000 Bosnian Moslems not enough?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
\"But the Moslems have to look at themselves also, their
\ncontribution to the European distrust and dislike of Islam and
\nMoslems. They are not blameless.\"<\/p>\n
Mahathir said there was a need for both the Europeans and the
\nMoslems to improve their perceptions of each other in order to
\nimprove their relations.<\/p>\n
Michel Caillouet, Bangkok-based ambassador and head of the EU
\ndelegation said the union was moving to close gaps with the
\nMoslem world.<\/p>\n
\"The feelings are changing. In the European Union, there are
\n15 countries with a 11 million Moslem population ... we have to
\npromote dialogues and mutual understanding,\" he told AFP.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/closer-europe-islamic-world-relations-urged-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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