‘Islamic world needs to fight poverty, corruption’

Terrorism is not linked to any religion or region and can only be defeated by a coalition of moderate forces across the world, Muslim scholars said in a declaration issued at the Muslim World League (MWL) conference in Makkah on Wednesday.
“The elimination of terrorism and religious extremism will not be achieved by the spread of Islamophobia or fighting against Islam. It can only be achieved by cooperation with Muslim countries, scholars and their institutions,” the declaration said at the end of the three-day event.
“Freedom is highly valued in Islam but it is linked to responsibility and should not be used as justification for abusing and blaspheming other religions,” the declaration said.
The international conference entitled “Islam and the Fight against Terrorism” was opened on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also adviser to the king, on Sunday at the headquarters of the MWL in Makkah.
The declaration stated that the Holy Qur’an condemns all forms of terror and extremist tendencies. It also called for the launch of an Islamic Court of Justice, a comprehensive strategy to cut off funding to terrorist groups, the promotion of trust between people and their leaders, anti-corruption policies, poverty alleviation and job creation projects, and the protection of human rights.
The declaration called on Muslim leaders, scholars, the youth, media, and governments to fight terrorism, with an emphasis on tackling underlying causes and circumstances.
It urged governments in the Muslim world to ensure justice for all by implementing Islamic law, institute policies that would prevent division based on religion and ethnicity and promote solidarity between Islamic countries.
They should also use school curricula to instill moderate values in the minds of young Muslims, and ensure conflict resolution is based on similar principles.
The conference also urged scholars to increase public awareness of Islamic values and correct misconceptions of the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is to turn people away from deviant and extremist interpretations of religious texts, the declaration said.
The media in the Muslim world should strive to reinforce religious and national unity, the declaration said. This would help deepen Islamic values and morals as opposed to seditious and sectarian ideas, in particular those tarnishing the religion.
The declaration also appealed to Muslim youth to follow the teachings of Islam based on the Qur’an and the Prophet’s Traditions. They should protect human lives and eschew sedition, extremism, violence and conflicts; and follow the advice of scholars, it said.