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MUSLIM
NATIONS AGREED TO FIGHT EXTREMISM AND FOSTER ISLAMIC UNITY
Leaders at the
biggest ever Islamic summit on terrorism vowed Thursday to fight
extremist ideology, saying they would reform textbooks, rein in the
issuing of religious edicts and crack down on terror financing.
After a two-day summit in the holy city of Mecca The leaders of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) agreed a 10-year plan
to increase trade between Muslims and to set up a fund for
development and emergency relief for those in need among the world's
one billion Muslims but failed to say how they would raise the
money.
They also pledged to "update national laws to criminalize all acts
of terrorism as well as its financing and incitement."
In a Mecca Declaration read out in a final session, they also called
upon their peoples to "combat forcefully the preachers of sedition
and deviation, who aim to distort the peaceful principles of Islam."
"The Islamic nation is in a crisis. This crisis does not reflect on
the present alone, but also on its future and the future of humanity
at large," the statement said.
"We need decisive action to fight deviant ideas because they are the
justification of terrorism," it said. "We are determined to fight
terrorism in all its forms."
In the declaration, the countries promised to "change national laws
to criminalize financing and incitement" as well as correct school
curriculums to purge extremist ideas.
"Islam is the religion of moderation. It rejects extremism and
isolation. There is a need to confront deviant ideology where it
appears, including in school curriculums. Islam is the religion of
diversity and tolerance," it said.
It also underlined that fatwas must only be issued by "those who are
authorized," an effort to rein in edicts by clerics who denounce
other Muslims as "apostates" and allow their killing.
In an attempt to address sectarian divisions among Muslims, an
article which bans accusations of apostasy being leveled at certain
groups was added to a 10-year "plan of action to confront the
challenges of the 21st century."
The article, which appears aimed at reducing tensions between Sunni
and Shiite Muslims, stressed "the correct belief of Muslim groups
... as long as they believe in God ... and all principles of Islam."
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal described the pledges
as "irreversible" but acknowledged that member countries had the
duty of putting them to the test.
"It is now up to every Muslim government to implement the measures,
God willing " he said at a press conference.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, speaking at the opening session of the
summit Wednesday, called for moderation in Islam.
"Islamic unity can't be achieved by the spilling of blood, as
deviant people claim by their dark ideas," he said.
Jordan's King Abdullah II, who has played a leading role at the
summit, pressing for strong language against terrorism and extremist
ideology said: "The subject that should have priority over all these
subjects is the consensus among us as Muslims on who is a Muslim and
on the condition of Ifta, (edict making)."
Saudi Arabia's king held talks with Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, who was making his first visit since taking office in
August.
Later both walked side by side with other leaders as they walked
around Mecca's Kaaba shrine seven times according to Islamic rites.
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