DICID Statement Condemning an American Pastor Provocative Remarks

19 Aug DICID Statement Condemning an American Pastor Provocative Remarks

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful

The Board of Directors of the Doha International Centre for the Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) strongly condemns the recent anti-Islam abominable comments stated by Terry Jones, an American Pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center a nondenominational church in Gainesville, Florida, instigated for hatred among followers of religions
In response to this slurred statement, DICID issued the following statement:

Recently, a Pastor Terry Jones offended Islam, his speech contained the provocative, racist and hateful remarks, announcing at his church in Gainesville, Florida intention to host an “International Burn a Quran Day” on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. We know that statements of this kind are not new, they are just a part of series of provocations, including provocations by some extreme right-wing American figures.

We at the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue condemn any kind of abuse, slander or insult of any religion in general and Islamic religion in particular in any form, by any one in any country, demanding those who issued such comments to stop with these provocations and to officially apologize to the Muslims in general and American Muslims in particular.

We extend our appreciation to all institutions that empathized with this smear campaign and condemn these disparaging and racist statements. We emphasize that the relationship between Muslims and followers of other faiths should not be based on conflict, abuse and insult, but on mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence which are governed by great diversity and racial equality. We believe that all laws protect freedom of expression unless it constitutes to an act of insult, and abuse of others.

In behalf of the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, upholding Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings, we call for a constructive dialogue between followers of different faiths towards better understanding and harnessing of distinct religious principles and teachings to the benefit of all humanity, on the basis of mutual respect and acknowledgement of differences.