
Pacik Rin/AP
King Abdullah
King Abdullah
Saudi Leaders Hope To Boost Religious Tolerance
King Abdullah has planned a multireligion meeting in Madrid to improve Islam’s world image and increase respect for different religious values.
30-Second Summary
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is home to an extreme version of the faith, sometimes known as Wahhabism, which bans the practice of other religions in the kingdom.
But it’s an image the country has been trying to change, especially since experiencing terrorist attacks in 2003 and 2004. “Abdullah and other officials have been stressing a more moderate, tolerant expression of their faith,” reports the Christian Science Monitor.
The three-day meeting, scheduled to begin July 16, is designed to further that goal. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish clerics, as well as representatives of Eastern religions, will take part in running the program, which will focus on “how to preserve morality,” according to Hassan Al Ahdal, media director at the Mecca-based Muslim World League, the group organizing the event.
The meeting is the first of its kind for a Saudi-Arabian leader and has not been without complications. Due to religious hostility in Saudi Arabia, it would have been difficult to hold the conference there, although officials said they chose Spain because of its historical symbolism as a place where Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived under Islamic rule in centuries past.
Representation of the Jewish faith at the meeting was also of deep concern, as Saudi Arabia, like many Arab countries, does not recognize Judaism. Many Jewish organizations, however, have welcomed Abdullah’s idea.
Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee’s international interreligious affairs, said he hopes the conference will be “an opportunity to break down … stereotypes, suspicion, and bigotry.”
But it’s an image the country has been trying to change, especially since experiencing terrorist attacks in 2003 and 2004. “Abdullah and other officials have been stressing a more moderate, tolerant expression of their faith,” reports the Christian Science Monitor.
The three-day meeting, scheduled to begin July 16, is designed to further that goal. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish clerics, as well as representatives of Eastern religions, will take part in running the program, which will focus on “how to preserve morality,” according to Hassan Al Ahdal, media director at the Mecca-based Muslim World League, the group organizing the event.
The meeting is the first of its kind for a Saudi-Arabian leader and has not been without complications. Due to religious hostility in Saudi Arabia, it would have been difficult to hold the conference there, although officials said they chose Spain because of its historical symbolism as a place where Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived under Islamic rule in centuries past.
Representation of the Jewish faith at the meeting was also of deep concern, as Saudi Arabia, like many Arab countries, does not recognize Judaism. Many Jewish organizations, however, have welcomed Abdullah’s idea.
Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee’s international interreligious affairs, said he hopes the conference will be “an opportunity to break down … stereotypes, suspicion, and bigotry.”
Headline Links: ‘Saudi King Set To Lead Rare Interfaith Talks in Spain’
The roughly 200 people invited to the conference include harsh critics of Islam, such as Rev. Franklin Graham, who has called the religion “evil and wicked.” Graham declined to attend because he is preparing for an upcoming trip to North Korea. Former Vice President Al Gore and the Archbishop of Canterbury were also invited, but declined because of prior engagements.
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
A story in the Arab News lists some of the people who will attend the meeting representing Islam, as well as those representing other religions. Topics at the conference will include community amity, international cooperation, human rights and peaceful coexistence.
Source: Arab News
Related Topic: Religious and political strife in Turkey
Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), the ruling political party in the country, and its leader, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are being accused of attempting to impose Islamic law in Turkey. The nation is contitutionally secular. The case is seen as a “power struggle between an elected government whose leaders are rooted in political Islam and a secular opposition that's backed by the judiciary and by Turkey's powerful military,” reports NPR.
Source: NPR
Reference: Religion guides
Explore the Muslim faith with findingDulcinea’s Web Guide to Islam. The guide includes information about the history and beliefs of Islam, links to Islamic blogs and online resources for connecting with the Muslim community.
Source: findingDulcinea
FindingDulcinea’s Web Guide to Judaism provides online resources for learning about the history of the Jewish faith, practicing Judaism, learning about Kosher food and wine and being part of the Jewish community.
Source: findingDulcinea
Christianity boasts over two billion adherents—almost a third of the world’s population. FindingDulcinea’s Web Guide to Christianity provides a variety of online resources for learning more about Christianity, including links to Christian news organizations, information on finding a church and Christian blogs.
Source: findingDulcinea

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