JEDDAH, 11 May 2005 — Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Zakah and Ushr Ejazul Haq and Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki yesterday discussed ways to counter the smear campaign against Islam and pledged cooperation in various fields.
The meeting, held in Makkah, also reviewed the implementation of the resolutions adopted at the OIC summit in 2002. The summit had adopted resolutions outlining ways to fight anti-Islam campaigns in the wake of Sept. 11 attacks. Profiling Muslims as terrorists after the Sept. 11 attacks was the commonplace in the West. The summit had also discussed ways to remove the misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.
Ejaz and the MWL secretary-general also discussed issues confronting the Ummah. Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and the MWL will jointly publish religious books and work together to fight anti-Islam campaign.
Turki briefed the Pakistani minister on steps being taken to provide more facilities to pilgrims. He also told the minister about big projects undertaken in Mina and other places to facilitate pilgrims.
The MWL secretary-general will visit Pakistan in June to discuss more cooperation between the MWL and Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The minister on Monday held talks with Madinah Governor Prince Muqrin.
He said on Monday that a new direct flight from a Pakistan city to Madinah was on the cards in order to make travel easy for Pakistani pilgrims who wish to start their Haj or Umrah from Madinah.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment and support to the global war on terror, while emphasizing that Islam is a religion that teaches peace and moderation.
He also urged Western societies to address the root causes of terrorism in order to contain it. “(Pakistani) President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has repeatedly told the Western countries to seek quick and just political solutions to global conflicts that involve Muslims, including Palestine and Kashmir. The president has emphasized time and again that unless the root causes are addressed, terrorism cannot be eliminated,” the minister said.
