Riyadh: Muslim scholars from around the world
who met this week in Saudi Arabia`s holy city Medina have
denounced "terrorism" and appealed to "extremists" to repent,
a statement said on Thursday.
The four-day Islamic conference, sponsored by Saudi
Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz and organised by
the Islamic University of Medina, drew some 500 participants,
according to press reports.
The scholars condemned "all acts of terrorism wherever
they take place and whoever is behind them," said the
concluding statement from the conference, which wrapped up
yesterday.
The scholars also criticised "the harm inflicted on
unarmed civilians and civilian facilities under the pretext of
combating international terrorism."
The statement published on the organisers` website called
on extremists to "return to their senses and follow the path
of groups that have announced repentance and rejected acts of
terrorism."
"Hold on to moderate Islam and tolerance towards others,"
and "reject false interpretations of ... jihad (holy war)," it
said, addressing Muslim youths.
The conference urged Muslim communities in non-Muslim
countries to encourage their children "to adopt a moderate
understanding of Islam, respect for others and to comply with
(local) laws."
It also urged the governments of those countries to
respect the rights of Muslims and "treat them equally with
other members of the community."
Saudi Arabia, which practises an ultra-conservative
Wahhabi version of Islam, has in recent years cracked down on
what it regards as extremist groups.
Al-Qaeda, which has been blamed for killing between 150
and 200 people in the kingdom between 2003 and 2006, has in
particular been in the firing line.
Saudi King Abdullah last month said the kingdom is
determined to halt extremism and a campaign was under way to
try dissuade youths from joining Al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP), a merger of the Saudi and Yemeni branches of
Osama bin Laden`s network.
PTI
