Iran FM Stresses Unity Among Muslim Ummah

Tehran, Jan 28, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in a message released on Sunday emphasized unity among Muslim Ummah. He made the remarks in a message to the 26th Islamic Unity Conference. ˈMuslim Ummah, particularly the religious scholars should propose new initiations in accordance with the new international conditions in order to protect its internal unity; enemies use every tool to divide Muslims.” Salehi pointed to the ongoing Islamic Awakening in the region which increased Islamic political groupsˈ power and noted that proximity among Muslim nations after the recent political changes in the Muslim world is more important than the past. ˈRevolutionized countries can overcome the problems caused by the remaining of former dictatorship systems and foreign intervention by exchange of experience with Muslim countries,ˈ the Iranian foreign minister said. He called extremism as a real danger which challenges the Muslim Ummah today and underlined that murder of Muslims in every corner of Muslim world, including Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan is provocative and favors enemies of Islam which are trying to show a rough image from Islam and seek to spread Islamophobia. ˈMuslim world should find a way for resolution of Syria crisis despite differences on the issue; Tehran believes that Syrian crisis should be resolved by participation of all Syrians without foreign interference and asks all political groups in Syria to stop violence in order to pave the way for national dialogue,ˈ Salehi said. Shia and Sunni scholars from over 100 countries are attending the two-day event to discuss the issue of unity among Islamic Ummah and the existing problems of the Muslim world. During the first day, the speakers highlighted the need for enhancing unity among Muslims. Addressing the conference, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Muslim nations to establish monotheism and justice. Muslim scholars believe there are abundant commonalities among Muslims, but the enemies of Islam who have many differences internally are trying to work out unity amongst themselves and create sectarian and ethnic rifts among Muslims in different countries, including Syria. In their speeches, the participants cautioned that enemies are exercising various plots and that the Muslim societies should be aware of such threats; A few months ago, the US-Israeli production of an anti-Islam movie triggered the anger of Muslims across the globe. This was followed by the publication of a blasphemous cartoon insulting Prophet Mohammad in France. The conference is also taking place as the Muslims worldwide are celebrating the “Unity Week” which marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), the last divine messenger to mankind./end