Manila (AsiaNews) – Over 100 Islamic clerics, academics and activists will today make an appeal for peace, harmony and interfaith dialogue in a bid to "empower the vast but silent majority of peaceful Muslims".

The appeal comes on the first of a three-day meeting of the second International Conference of Muslim Leaders that is taking place within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

Prof. Taha M. Basman, head of the Center for Moderate Muslims that organized the event, said delegates "will exchange opinions and knowledge on the effective propagation of Islam as a religion of peace. In the meeting, we will emphasise true Islamic values of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and moderation."

Basman, one of the most renowned activists in the Philippines, said: "Religion should be a bond that brings peoples together under an umbrella of peace, tolerance, moderation, and harmony. Let us raise our voices to drown out those who refuse to live and let live."

A roundtable discussion will be held to see how to "counter the spread of extremism in Asia and to eradicate terrorism and other forms of violence."

The activist said: "Look at the violence in Iraq and Afghanistan. Muslims are killing each other every day. Something must be done to stop this spiral and there is no better place than ASEAN to start it."