LONDON, Sep 14 (APP):Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and Secretary General of the International Tahzeem-e-Harmain Sharifain Council Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Monday called for a joint and effective role by religious leaders around the world to promote lasting peace, end wars and conflicts, and protect innocent people from violence, terrorism and extremism. Speaking to the media in London, Ashrafi described the prevailing global situation as deeply alarming, …
Religious Leaders Must Play Active Role in Ending Wars, Promoting Global Peace: Ashrafi
LONDON, Sep 14 (APP):Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and Secretary General of the International Tahzeem-e-Harmain Sharifain Council Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Monday called for a joint and effective role by religious leaders around the world to promote lasting peace, end wars and conflicts, and protect innocent people from violence, terrorism and extremism.
Speaking to the media in London, Ashrafi described the prevailing global situation as deeply alarming, citing the situation in Palestine, developments in the Gulf, the Kashmir dispute, conflicts in parts of Africa and attacks on innocent people by violent and extremist groups as serious challenges facing humanity.
He said global religious leadership could no longer remain a silent observer and should play a practical role in promoting negotiations and dialogue to end wars, violence, terrorism and extremism.
Ashrafi said the followers of all major religions, including Islam, believed in peace, love, justice, respect for human life and peaceful coexistence. Those who kill or target innocent people in the name of religion, he said, neither served their faith nor represented its true teachings.
He urged religious leaders from all faiths to join hands in strengthening the message of peace, justice and respect for humanity in response to growing war, hatred, terrorism and extremism. He maintained that the challenges confronting the world could not be resolved through further violence, but through negotiations, dialogue, justice and respect for international law.
Ashrafi said the Pakistan Ulema Council had begun consultations and contacts with prominent religious leaders representing different faiths across the world as part of efforts to build a unified religious voice for peace and the protection of humanity.
He expressed hope that the consultative process would produce positive results soon and enable religious leaders from different faiths to adopt a strong and coordinated approach towards ending wars and conflicts, protecting oppressed and innocent people, combating terrorism and extremism, and promoting lasting global peace.
