Doha (AsiaNews) – "We want to renew our commitment and full will to strengthen links among believers in the Omnipotent God." The third "Meeting of Religions" closed with this strongly expressed intention. The meeting was held on 29 and 30 June in Doha, gathering 100 delegates from the three monotheistic religions: this year, Jewish representatives were present for the first time.

At the end of the meeting, participants published a common statement, affirming the importance of such encounters, reflecting as they do a sincere desire of all to "coexist". They exhorted believers of the three religions to strengthen their commitment for peace and harmony among all the peoples of the world.

During the meeting, the need was felt for the Arab world to set up entities dedicated to religious science and the study of comparative religions. Participants expressed hope for the setting up of an Arab institute committed to launching religious studies, and they rejected "false theories" which talk of "polemics among religions".

Delegates gave full backing to a project aimed at setting up a higher Council for inter-religious dialogue, made up of representatives of all three religions. Dr Aisha Al Manah, president of the Institute of islamic studies and sharia, told AsiaNews of her desire to see an Arab world which is more reconciled and tolerant. She assured all of the willingness of the government of the Arab Emirates to follow through efforts to maintain this spirit of openness.

There was harsh condemnation for terrorism exercised in the name of faith: the meeting reiterated that religions are not a mean of war, but instruments for peace and it called on the international community to strengthen measures to prevent the "anomaly of terrorism" carried out under different religious "labels".

Great attention was paid to information and the media. Participants asked clerics and religious leaders to get involved in publishing material in magazines and newspapers and to collaborate with radio and television broadcasts capable of enlightening the people about religious issues. Scholars also asked interested governments to exercise rigid control over "unhealthy" broadcasts which "ruin consciences and minds and damage religions".

Deliberations ended with the speech of Shaikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani, emir of Qatar. He renewed his government's commitment in favour of peace and coexistence among all the faithful of monotheistic religions and expressed hope in the setting up an international centre for inter-religious dialogue.

Walid Ghayad, one of the participants at the meeting, told AsiaNews of his satisfaction with "the climate of dialogue" which marked deliberations in Doha and he highlighted the importance of openness towards the other, "who is not an island but a creature of God".