Abu Dhabi to host world Islamic peace forum

Abu Dhabi, March 3 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi will March 9-10 host a 'Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies' with the participation of more than 250 of the world's most influential Islamic scholars and academics.

The event will be held under the aegis of UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The forum's discussions will focus on critical humanitarian issues caused by sectarianism and ideological differences in Muslim societies, resulting in an unprecedented spread of violence causing dismal international repercussions. Over 30 clerics and scholars will address the audience of over 400.

Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, President of The Global Centre for Renewal and Guidance (GCRG), one of the Muslim world's pre-eminent scholars and chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Forum, valued the UAE's response to the Islamic scholars' call to bring an end to the existing turmoil and to promote peace.

He added that a "conducive atmosphere for peace cannot be available unless the hearts are filled with love for people".

The forum is considered as the first of many steps in gathering a group of elite Islamic scholars, thinkers and academics by allowing them the opportunity to clarify the true teachings of Islam and remove the distorted image of the Islamic religion.

The scholars and intellectuals are expected to discuss four major themes: humanitarian values, correcting concepts on jihad, fatwa in a world of strife and the humanistic ethical value.