Cultural communication and dialogue are important to activate religious and national diversity, especially in countries with different faiths and ethnicities, asserted Muslim World League (MWL) secretary-general Mohammed al-Issa.
To achieve harmony and peace, mankind must fully understand the inevitability of differences and diversity, he said, stressing the importance of cooperating and understanding others through similarities, of which 10 percent is enough to achieve world peace; inside countries and between them.
Issa was giving a lecture at Kazan Federal University in the Republic of Tatarstan, during which he lauded the republic's distinction in religious and national integration under the umbrella of the national state of the Russian Federation while ensuring freedom of privacy in rituals and traditions.
The Sec-Gen indicated that the League wants to promote the true version of Islam and counter extremist ideologies falsely attributed to Islam, as well as other forms of extremism, especially the extreme right in Western countries.
He added that MWL wants to “extend bridges of communication and dialogue to followers of other religions and cultures, to work with them in order to provide initiatives that serve common goals.”
In addition, Issa announced that the League wants to extend bridges of support to everyone, regardless of religion, race or color.
Addressing the faculty members and a group of academics and students, Issa explained that even though Muslims are proud of their religious affiliation, they know that this does not conflict with their national identity.
He indicated that national affiliation is a key element for achieving harmony between religious and national identities while asserting that extremist ideas contradict these concepts.
