Muslim World League backs Chirac’s appeal for international convention on cultural diversity

Holy Makkah-Muhammed Assad

The Muslim World League has welcomed President Jaques Chirac’s call for dialogue between the various cultures and civilizations as an effective means of combating terrorism. In his letter to the French President, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, said the League backs Chirac’s appeal for an international convention on cultural diversity, designed to resist and protect the human society against the dangers of globalization.

Text of Dr. Al-Turki’s letter.

H.E. Mr. Jacques Chirac,

President of the Republic of France

Champs-Elysse

Paris - France

Respected Mr. President,

After the best of compliment

I would like to inform your Excellency that I have had the pleasure of going through your invaluable speech to the leaders of the European Union in addition to the leaders of ten (10) Asian countries at the European-Asian encounter in Copenhagen-Denmark.

I was particularly impressed by the following basic concepts of international cooperation, therein mentioned:

1. Dialogue of cultures and civilizations as a means of combating terrorism.
2. Dialogue without arrogance in order to promote mutual respect.
3. Dialogue to help resist dangers associated with globalization.
4. Signing an international agreement on cultural diversity.

Therefore, while welcoming the aforementioned concepts, which, no doubt, promotes peaceful coexistence and protects nations against the dangers of clashes, the Muslim World League, as the representative of Muslim peoples, Muslim minority communities and Islamic organizations believes –like yourself- that dialogue is the most effective and civilized way of fighting against terrorism, prevention of clashes and establishing balanced relations between peoples and nations.

As a matter of fact, communication and mutual acquaintance are among the Islamic principles. Therefore, having tackled topics, which are similar to those contained in your Excellency’s speech, Muslim scholars who participated in the fourth General Islamic conference, which was organized by the Muslim World League in April 2002 adopted a number of resolutions and recommendation as follows:

I - Dialogue of Civilizations and Cultures:

1. The 4th General Islamic conference regards dialogue between the civilization as an open window of mutual understanding among mankind.
2. In article eleven (11) of the Charter of Makkah issued during the conference, the participants laid emphasis on the: “Significance of dialogue between the various civilizations, and called for the development of the horizons of communications between peoples, making use of the human experience, and laying emphasis on the value system with regard to Muslim-non Muslim relations as well as on common denominators.”
3. The conference urged Islamic centers and institutions to join the activities and programs that are bound to promote common well-being and strengthen social stability.
4. The conference recommends revision of the previous stages of dialogue, so as to promote understanding among the followers of the various religions, and in order to serve mankind.
5. The conference also recommended that: “Qualified Muslim scholars must be in charge of dialogue between Muslims and foreign governments, academic centers and civil institution.” Accordingly, the Muslim World League has decided to set up a center for dialogue between the civilizations, and coexistence between the cultures. The center will follow up the issue of dialogue with the concerned institutions and organizations worldwide.

II - Combating acts terrorism

The Muslim World League has denounced all forms of terrorism, especially, the criminal attack that took place in the United States of America on September the 11th 2001. Similarly, the participants of the 4th General Islamic Conference have condemned all kinds and shapes of acts of terrorism, and presented an Islamic formula for combating terrorism. They also endorsed the definition of terrorism laid down by the Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League as follows:

“Definition of Terrorism:

“Terrorism is: An outrageous attack carried out either by individuals, groups or states against the human being (religion, life, intellect, property and honour). It includes all forms of intimidation, harm, threat, killing without just cause, and anything connected with all forms of armed insurgence, threatening the security of a highway, banditry, any act of violence or threat intended to fulfil a criminal scheme individually or collectively, so as to terrify or horrify the people by hurting them or by exposing their lives, liberty, security or conditions to danger; it can also take the form of inflicting damage either on the environment or on a public or a private utility, or exposing a national or natural resource to danger.” All these are manifestations of the mischief in the land, which Allah has prohibited Muslims from committing. Allah says: {And seek not occasions for mischief in the land: for God loveth not those who do mischief}. 28/77”

III – Addressing the Dangers Associated with Globalization

1. The conference called for active participation of peoples and nations in addressing contemporary issues on the basis of justice and mutual respect.

2. The conference demanded that common plans be laid down to get rid of the negative aspects of globalization.

Mr. President,

I would like to assure your Excellency that the concepts you advocated for are quite in line with the actions the Muslim World League is presently engaged in. In fact, the League’s delegation, which is made up of political, cultural, and religious leaderships as well as academicians from Western Universities has visited Britain, Belgium, Germany and the United States to expound Islam’s position vis-à-vis contemporary issues, especially, the question of dialogue between the civilizations and fighting against terrorism. As a matter of fact, the delegation is currently visiting France, Italy and the Russian Federation with the aim of fulfilling its cultural mission with the representatives of the masses of peoples and governments.

Moreover, while appreciating your Excellency’s rejection of international arrogance, the Muslim World League welcomes your Excellency’s appeal for an international convention on cultural diversity as a sign of respecting peoples’ peculiarities. This is because the League strongly believes that such a convention could help dispel the perils of a one sided culture of globalization, which aims at do away with cultural diversity and the plurality of mankind’s peculiarities.

Finally, I wish your Excellency continued sound health, and wish the French people abundant prosperity.

Prof. Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki

Secretary General

Muslim World League