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20:59 GMT
President of Kuwait-based International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) Dr. Abdullah Al-Matouq addresses the conference of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies
ABU DHABI, Dec 11 (KUNA) -- President of Kuwait-based International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) Dr. Abdullah Al-Matouq called Monday for spreading the message of Islam as a religion of peace, co-existence, tolerance as well as a faith that rejcted extremism and terrorism.
Al-Matouq, also Advisor at Amiri Diwan of Kuwait, was speaking to KUNA on sidelines of a conference of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, in which around 700 people representing religious, intellectual and cultural organizations were taking part.
The forum is held amidst growing Islamophobic feelings and threats against Muslim minorities, said in a statement to KUNA.
Extremism and terrorism are global phenomena "and are not restricted to a certain religion," clarified Al-Matouq.
Participants are discussing solutions for sectarian conflicts and how to revive common humanitarian values like peace, mercy, justice and accepting of others, he added.
UAE Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan Al-Nahyan opened the forum earlier today and asserted that peace was the true guarantee for dialogue and tolerance. (end)
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