Muslim leaders urge a just and peaceful world culture
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
At least 150 Muslim leaders and scholars from across the world who had gathered in Jakarta on Saturday, demanded justice for all the world's diverse communities and urged Islamic nations and others to end global conflicts and recover peace.
Justice was the most important factor in eradicating terrorism, they said in a joint declaration issued after their two-day summit titled Islam and a Future World of Peace.
"The implementation of justice for and by Muslims will be the single most important factor in the elimination of violence," the declaration said.
The summit, attended by representatives from 50 countries across the world, was held to counter misperceptions of Islam following September's terrorist attacks on the United States.
Those present at the forum included former Indonesian president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid of Indonesia's Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Akbar Muhammad of the U.S.-based-Nation of Islam, Shakyh Ahmad Tigani Ben Omar of the U.S.-based Universal Islamic Center, M. Manzoor Alam of India's Institute of Objective Studies, and Muntaz Ahmad of the Hampton University.
The declaration also stressed the need for Muslim nations and other communities throughout the world to work together to find the best solutions to resolving global conflicts.
They should also be consistently committed to promoting justice, freedom and human rights, it said.
Manzoor Alam said all followers of different religions should work together to fight against injustice, an enemy of peace and a parasite to any democratic society.
"We should work together to create a more just world system as it will be the most important thing to create a more peaceful world," Alam told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the summit.
Muntaz Ahmad said the creation of peace could not be separated from global efforts to address various world problems, such as poverty and backwardness arising from widespread injustice across the globe.
"We must take into consideration the victims of injustice," said Ahmad, adding that many Muslims in the world had become victims of the world's unjust system.
Gus Dur, who hosted the forum, said many participants wanted the summit followed with several other meetings to discuss concrete measures for unresolved problems.
Some Muslim leaders also proposed a new Islamic organization aimed at exchanging views among Muslim nations and discussing their contributions to the world.
Highlights of the declaration
1. Religion and Spirituality * The message of Islam aims to produce peace and prosperity, promote love, forgiveness, and create a humane society. * Islam rejects violence in any forms against the innocent. * Muslim leaders and scholars are responsible for the promotion of peace and harmony.
2. Civic Responsibility in Political Society * Muslim nations must devote their energies toward education and improvement of economic opportunities for their people. * In any system of government the protection of the freedom and rights of its citizens is paramount.
3. Interfaith, Intercultural and International Relations * Dialog toward harmony and understanding is a Muslim responsibility. * Intellectual and spiritual leaders are obliged to establish enduring structures of dialog to prevent conflict among followers of different religions.