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Intellectuals, opinion leaders and academics from various
countries convened on Wednesday at a conference focusing on
the Amman Message as a basis for dialogue, two years after
its launch.
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, who opened the two-day
conference at the Hashemite University yesterday, said
Jordan would continue its efforts to spread the values of
the Message and translate them into facts on the ground, the
Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The
Amman Message, which was publicized in November 2004 and
translated into several key languages, seeks to reveal a
message of tolerance and humanity and rejects extremism as
devotion from Islamic beliefs.
It
stresses the true values of Islam and advocates a proper
understanding of the faith, which honors all human beings
and provides common ground among different faiths and
peoples.
His
Majesty King Abdullah has cited the document in all his
visits, lectures and encounters, amid a campaign he launched
to a reintroduce traditional Islam in response to the rise
of extremist and efforts by certain circles to tarnish the
faith.
Hashemite University President Omar Shdeifat described the
Amman Message as "the first systematic and comprehensive
effort that presents Islamic values at their purest."
The
Message, he said, represents a "reform approach that can be
adopted by states and societies and is a continuation of the
original message of Islam.
The
conference, entitled "Amman Message in the Eyes of Others:
Dialogue, Moderation, Humanity" seeks to render the Message
an International reference document, Shdeifat added.
Professor Emerite de la Sorbonne Dominique Chevallier,
described the Amman Message as essential for Dialogue that
leads to peace, despite the difficulties facing the world in
accomplishing such a goal.
Organisers said the conference seeks to promote the concepts
of freedom, democracy, human rights, justice and moderation
as addressed in the Amman Message and clarify "the Islamic
underpinnings of respect for religions and faiths,
tolerance, delight extremism, intransigence and
exaggeration."
Over eight sessions, participants will address issues like
the moderate nature of Islam and its repudiation of
extremism and terrorism, human rights in Islam, Amman
Message between the clash and dialogue-of civilizations and
the Hashemite dynasty's role in carrying the message of
Islam.
Participating countries include Austria, Belgium, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco,
Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, the UK, the US and Tunisia.
Jordan Times News Paper
www.jordantimes.com
September 21, 2006- Thursday
Volume: 21, Number: 9383
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