Manila (AsiaNews) Leading Muslim religious leaders from Southeast Asian Nations will intensify the fight against extremism and terrorism by empowering moderates in the Muslim world. Discussion about what means to employ to stem extremists will be the focus of an encounter between Muslim leaders of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), to be held in Manila from 22 to 24 November. The summit will be hosted by the Center for Moderate Muslims (CMM) of Prof. Taha M.Barsman.
Prof. Basman, a staunch advocate of dialogue and religious tolerance, said: "Since the 9/11 terrorist attack, extremists from the Islamic Ummah have virtually hijacked Islam."
A UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Commissioner, Basman continued: "Every Muslim must stand up and join the campaign to drown out the screaming voices of the extremists, who give a distorted interpretation of Islamic teachings to suit their agenda." The CMM founder had an appeal: "Let us join hands with our fellow Muslims in ASEAN and strengthen moderates, who are the vast majority in Islam. Allah says in the Quran that Islam is a religion of the middle way."
Participants at next week's meeting include academics, women and exponents of religion-based youth communities from Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. Also expected are members of the Moro National Liberation Front, Islamic separatists in the southern Philippines with who Manila signed a peace treaty in 1996 after decades of guerrilla warfare.
