International Muslim-Christian symposium in Cairo
October 28-29, 2001
"The International Islamic Forum for Dialogue, in cooperation with the World Muslim Congress and the International Islamic Center for Da’wa and Relief, held an international Muslim-Christian symposium in Cairo, October 28-29.
The participants included representatives from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (Vatican), the World Council of Churches, the World Conference on Religion and Peace, The International Islamic Call Society, the Union of Islamic organizations in Europe and the Middle East Council of Churches.
The symposium was also attended by a number of Muslim and Christian religious leaders and representatives of churches and national Islamic organizations. It was addressed by H.E. The Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Shaykh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, H.H. Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and H.E. Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Taskhiri, President of the Council for Dialogue between Islamic traditions. Other religious dignitaries and representatives of world bodies and scholars were also in attendance.
At the end of the deliberations, the symposium issued a communiqué condemning the attacks of September 11 and affirming that such an abominable act contradicts religious values. All forms of terrorism, perpetrated by individuals, groups or states were equally condemned.
The communiqué stated that the rights of self-defense and self-determination were legitimate.
Referring to the present situation in Afghanistan, it said that acts of war and retaliation are not the best way to irradicate terrorism, since they lead to human tragedy where innocent persons pay for acts for which they are not responsible.
The participants at the symposium underlined the primacy of justice and mutual respect between religions, cultures and civilizations. They added that terrorism can be uprooted through striving together against injustice, poverty, corruption and the struggle against moral depravation.
The communiqué affirmed the urgency of implementing the rights of the Palestinian people according the appropriate UN resolutions.
It called for the convening of an international conference to reach an agreement on the meaning of terrorism and ways of combating it.
It expressed appreciation for the work of relief and humanitarian organizations, recommended greater cooperation between Christians and Muslim bodies and denounced the campaign aiming at discrediting Islamic relief work.
Finally, the participants at the symposium strongly condemned the criminal act perpetrated against Christian worshippers in the church at Bawalphar in Pakistan.
Tarek Mitri
WCC/Interreligious Relations and Dialogue team
Geneva, 31 October, 2001"