Asia-Pacific Muslim Representatives Call For Unity

Muslim representatives from Asia-Pacific countries have called for unity and strengthening of bonds between Islamic countries at the First Asia Pacific Countries Muslim Religious Leaders Summit in Istanbul. 



Addressing the opening ceremony of the four-day summit on Tuesday, Turkey's head of Presidency for Religious Affairs Mehmet Gormez said: "As close and distant friends, we have to make efforts to provide unity and integrity as part of the Ummah [Arabic for Islamic world]".



Among participants of the four-day summit were Muslim officials from several Asia Pacific countries, including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. 



About the summit, Gormez said:  "It is a meeting to speak again about the opportunities for cooperation and to reestablish our religious, cultural, and historical relations.  



"It is a meeting about sharing our experiences for a better understanding of Islam and better practice of it. It is a meeting of a race for charity and kindness, and a meeting to fulfill the requirements of the law of brotherhood."



He also highlighted the "struggle within the Islamic world" and called on all Asia Pacific Muslims to help their Muslim brothers in the Middle East and Balkans. "All Muslims are equal. No one is superior to the other regardless of geography, language, ethnicity and wealth," he said.



He warned that when people lose wisdom, peace disappears along with it as well.



Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus also spoke at the summit. He said that there were two major issues confronting the Islamic world. "Our first problem is the Palestinian issue, and a free Masjid al-Aqsa," Kurtulmus said.



Also, he said:  "Muslim geography is politically and intellectually divided".



He added that Islamic countries face lack of education and injustice. "Islamic countries have to analyze the reasons of their internal problems... There is no victory with praying unless social responsibilities are achieved," he said.



He spoke about the importance of justice, freedom, and responsibility in Islamic countries. 



"The second matter of Islamic world is external interventions, including colonization, occupations, terror, and Islamophobia," the deputy premier said.



"I once again strongly condemn all groups who are conducting terrorist acts supposedly for Islam. Terror is terror, and it is a crime against humanity," he said.



He hoped that the summit would help rebuild deep cultural and historical relations and values between Islamic countries.



Governor of Istanbul Vasip Sahin and Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas were also present at the summit.



During their speeches, Afghanistan Hajj Minister Feyz Mohammad Osmani and Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin offered their condolences to Ankara victims, who were killed in the twin bombings Saturday, which left at least 97 people dead.



"No matter which religion it comes from, we condemn such terror incidents," Osmani said, adding: "We hope it is the last terror act in Turkey".



About the challenges facing Islamic countries today, Saifuddin highlighted the role that education could play in confronting the challenges, adding that through education "we will be able to find solutions to the crucial problems that the Islamic countries have faced in the last several decades". 



Bangladeshi Minister for Religious Affairs Matior Rahman, head of Islamic Association of China Hilaluddin Chang Guangyang, head of Islamic Fiqh Academy of India Mohammad Amin Usmani, Malaysia's Religious Adviser to the Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Muhammad Zin, and Minister of Muslim Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka Mohamed Hashim Abdul Haleem also delivered speeches at the summit.



The summit, the theme of which is "Unity in Municipality: Rethinking 'Wisdom and Peace", will continue until Friday. - İstanbul