Leaders of Different Faiths Hail Saudi King’s Call for Interfaith Dialogue
—Historic call helps advance multi-religious cooperation for peace in Middle East and around the world—
—Historic call helps advance multi-religious cooperation for peace in Middle East and around the world—
(New York, 26 March 2008)—Leaders of different faiths in Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, today hailed Saudi King Abdullah’s powerful plea for dialogue among Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The King’s call for dialogue was all the more remarkable given the absence of Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic ties to Israel.
The King’s call builds on his historic meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in November 2007, a visit the Vatican recognized as advancing a broad discussion on the need for multi-religious and cultural dialogue “for the promotion of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values.” King Abdullah made clear that his call for dialogue addresses the entire world.
Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, said, “Multi-religious cooperation is a key to building peace in the Middle East and around the world. The tragedy is that political initiatives have often closed the door to the positive role that multi-religious cooperation can play in building peace. King Abdullah is opening that door.”
Religions for Peace leadership from Saudi Arabia has been significant, including two former Secretaries General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali and Dr. Abdullah bin Omar Nasseef. The latter is a Religions for Peace Honorary President. H.E. Sheikh Nasser Almutawa Alotaibi, Chairman and CEO of Samama Group of Companies, is a Religions for Peace International Trustee.
The Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Moderator of Religions for Peace, noted that the King’s call for dialogue and cooperation was based on widely accepted principles that have allowed religious communities to achieve tangible results in resolving conflicts and advancing development. “Authentic multi-religious cooperation demands an honest recognition of religious differences and a commitment to cooperate on shared moral concerns. Honoring these principles has enabled Religions for Peace to work on the front lines of conflict and poverty while building a spirit of trust among different religious communities.”
Chief Rabbi David Rosen, a member of the Religions for Peace World Council and President of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, said, “The powerful significance of King Abdullah’s call for multi-religious dialogue is impossible to overstate. Such multi-religious dialogue could have wide-ranging impact in the Middle East region by helping to engage religions in the building of peace.”
H.E. Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina and a member of the Religions for Peace World Council, joined the other religious leaders in hailing the King’s call for dialogue. “Too many of us know too well the pain, suffering and devastation that war and conflict brings upon the innocent,” Dr. Ceric said. “Let us cooperate as religious believers for peace.”
Religions for Peace has been advancing multi-religious cooperation for peace since 1970. In December, its leaders in the Middle East took steps to form the Religions for Peace Middle East Council of Religious Leaders and the Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council of Palestine. Religions for Peace is present in Israel as the Israeli Inter-religious Coordinating Council.
