-- A World Conference on Dialogue is going to be held from the 16th to
the 18th of July, 2008 in Madrid by an invitation from the Custodian
of Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi
Arabia
-- Politicians, thinkers and intellectuals from all over the world have
travelled to Madrid
-- The King Abdullah Bin Abdulazia Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia and D.
Juan Carlos I, King of Spain inaugurate this meeting place for
global dialogue on 16th of July. Madrid becomes the capital of
dialogue and religious pluralism for three days.
MADRID, July 17 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Madrid becomes the venue for the World Conference for Dialogue which was announced by the King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, during the International Islamic Conference for Dialogue held in Mecca on May 30th this year. Mecca is viewed as the cradle of Islam and the main place for religious reference for Muslims all around the world. The convocation, organised with the support of the General Secretary of the Muslim World League (MWL) will unite leading personalities specialised in dialogue and topics such as "life of human societies, international co-operation, human rights, security and peace and living peacefully together" in Spain from the 16th to 18th of July, 2008.
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200807171353.jpg )
Photo Caption: Saudi Arabia King, Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz Al Saud and Spanish King Don Juan Carlos I inaugurated World conference on Dialogue on 16th of July, 2008
This international conference organised in Madrid is a realization of the dialogue initiative by MWL. This conference targeted the followers and experts of the three monotheistic Abrahamic world religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and other creeds. The appeal of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud turns Madrid into the capital of dialogue and religious pluralism for a few days. However, Spain had been, and still is, a place of peaceful co-existence and understanding among the three monotheistic religions -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- for many centuries. The followers of these religions meet again in a formal manner to have a dialogue between religious leaders and secular thinkers and intellectuals. King Juan Carlos I of Spain and King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques inaugurate this conference on Wednesday, July 16th, 2008.
Aims and themes of the conference
By organising this outstanding event, the Muslim World League hopes to reach a number of different objectives:
-- underline the fact that religion is an important factor in human
societies
-- contemplate on the success and failures of past experiences of
dialogue among the followers of different faiths and cultures in
order to enhance their positive aspects and avoid their negative
aspects in future dialogue
-- study and analyze the obstacles which might prevent dialogue from
reaching its desired objectives
-- co-ordinate different efforts at the international level to
counteract emerging challenges arising from negative behaviour which
is incompatible with human nature and universal human values
-- strengthen moral values and noble social practices against
licentiousness and anarchy, moral decadency and the disintegration
of the family
-- resisting tendencies which promote conflicts between different
peoples, cultures and nations
With the intention to reach these objectives, the World Conference on Dialogue deals with five fundamental themes:
-- Dialogue and its religious and civilizational foundations
-- The significance of dialogue in human society
-- Common human values in the field of dialogue
-- Evaluation and improvement of dialogue
-- Dissemination of the culture of dialogue and co-existence
Abdullah Bin Abdulmuhsin Al-Turki, General Secretary of the Muslim World League, affirms that King Abdullah's initiative has achieved the "unanimous agreement" of the Islamic community. A clear sign of this, he says, is that the appeal has been accepted by the Ulama and thinkers which represented the Muslim nation at the conference in Mecca a short time ago on May 30th this year.
The MWL received messages of Ulama, institutions and Islamic and global research centers about the importance of organising this International Conference of "followers of divine messages and cultures of great importance, opinion leaders, and those who love justice and peace" in Madrid.
The conference unites leaders and representatives of the different religions. It is characterised by the special importance of having been convoked from Mecca, and announced by King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in order to conduct dialogue and search for common values in all cultures. The event relies on the support of the Spanish Government and King Juan Carlos I himself, who will be present during the opening ceremony.
The World Islamic League
The World Islamic League is a non-profit non-governmental Islamic organization. It represents the Islamic people and minorities all over the world. Its head office is located in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The League has at its disposal more than 40 offices which are distributed over all continents. In addition, it organises cultural and beneficial activities in many parts of the world. The League was founded by the General Islamic Conference held in Mecca on May 18th, 1962, which also united distinguished leaders and personalities of the Islamic World, illustrating the thoughts and worries of their religion and of the way of life of all Muslims living across the world.
The League is a member of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and has representatives in New York, Geneva and Vienna, also being member of the UNESCO and UNICEF as well as an observing member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. In 1987, it was elected as a "Messenger of World Peace" by the United Nations.
Conferences can be followed in real time on the following site: http://www.world-dialogue.org
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