The World Muslim Congress (Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami) is the oldest Muslim organisation with an unblemished record of service to Muslims in particular and world in general. It enjoys consultative status in United Nations through ECOSOC and UNICEF and observer status with the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

The World Muslim Congress from its inception in 1926 has adopted and treaded the path of peace, reconciliation, interfaith harmony, mutual respect, peaceful resolution of unresolved issues which endanger peace in the world.

It's attitude and approach is very positive, unbiased and peaceful, based on human love and brotherhood. The idea of the formation of Organization of Islamic Conference was also initiated by World Muslim Congress as it is evident from its objectives.

World Muslim Congress was founded in the holy city of Makah Mukarrama in 1926. Late King Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudia Arabia played a historic and pivotal role in its formation.

We are indebted to His Majesty for this gigantic task. The services of Grand Mufti of Palestine H.E. Syed Amin ul Hussaini the first president of World Muslim Congress and his eminent colleagues will go down in the annals of history.

The World Muslim Congress had its Head Quarter in Baitul Maqdas (Jerusalem) and it remained there till the beginning of World War II when the British colonial rulers in Palestine ransacked it.

In the present troubled torn world where the terrorism, extremism, fanaticism and religious intolerance are rampant, the distinguished President of World Muslim Congress H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bin Omar Nasseef has rendered most valuable and glorious services for cause of peace and combating the menace of extremism and misconception among the followers of different faiths.

His Excellency's approach is natural, impartial based on human love, common living and human brotherhood which paves the way for universal human brotherhood and peaceful co-existence.

He has travelled round the globe in pursuit of peace and addressed numerous international conferences in this regard. He is the torch bearer of peace, solidarity and homogeneity. He commands respect equally among all faiths and is considered as a symbol of peace in the world.

The Secretary General of this august organisation H.E. Raja Muhammad Zafar ul Haq has also rendered distinguished services in this regard and played very important role. The World Muslim Congress is also recipient of different international awards.

I as a humble member of World Muslim Congress have attended during past few years 125 interfaith and peace conferences in different countries to which I was invited by different world forums.

I was awarded different awards and gold medal for my services for peace and interfaith harmony. I am also on the proposal committee of renowned Niwano Peace Award. The credit for it goes to World Muslim Congress.
In the present world there exists misunderstanding about Muslims. They are branded as extremists and terrorists. Any where if there is any sabotage or terrorism, the electronic and print media having the backing and blessings of some quarters, holds Muslims responsible for it without confirming or waiting for procuring evidence. They try to tarnish the beautiful & peaceful image of Islam and Muslims.

There are different lobbies who launch nefarious and malicious propaganda against Muslims inorder to create justification for attacking Muslim countries and capture their natural resources. The Muslims which forms about 1/4th of the world population having 57 sovereign states have never preached violence nor resorted to violence. Muslims have paid the highest cost against violence & terrorism, only in Pakistan more than 35000 people have laid down their lives. It includes about 5000 defence personnel. Our schools, Mosques, offices, cantonments and business centres etc have been destroyed. It is still a mystery who supplies latest arms and huge financial support to these terrorists for carrying terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Instead of giving a pat on the back and appreciate our role, we are maligned and asked to do more.
We are conscious of the fact that the beautiful and peaceful country of Sri Lanka faced insurgency and terrorism for long time which resulted in huge loss of human life and property. But the government, armed forces and people of this great country combated the terrorists very boldly which resulted in the latters' annihilation and crushing defeat. H.E. The President of Republic of Sri Lanka deserves rich commendation for it. We wish Sri Lanka ever lasting peace and prosperity.

There is wrong notion and great misperception about Muslims. The perception in the western society regarding Islam and Muslims needs to be changed as terrorists are not followers of Islam but they label themselves as Muslims to impose their terroristic ideology. This can also be said of massive terrorists attacks in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan & else where. The recent bomb blast in Delhi High Court shows that terrorism is not against one country but against the whole humanity. It is highly condemnable. These perpetrators do not belong to any religion or nation. It is rightly said that these terror outfits have chosen the path of violence and want to harm humanity and peace. Islamophobia is spreading in the world. This has damaged the image of Islam as such. This needs to be corrected and it shouldn't be the cause of discrimination between Islam & other religions. I would like to mention that Islam is a peace loving religion and it does not teach violence and hatred. The very meaning of Islam is peace. It is the great exponent of peace, human brotherhood tolerance, mutual respect and human survival. We believe in human love and uphold the principle of live and let others live.

All world leaders and nations should shun their prejudices against Islam and come out to check terrorism and extremism in all its forms without single outing any particular faith. We must desist from expressing or causing aspersion but should try to maintain / retain decent bilateral relations. Islam does not permit to ridicule any faith, nation or individual. According to holy Quran killing of one person without justification amounts to killing of entire humanity. It considers human life very sacred. The international community should adopt the policy of caring & sharing and should not turn blind eye to the issues of Muslims concern like Palestine and Kashmir etc where genocide of Muslims and gross violation of their inalienable Human Rights is going on since long.

In the Security Council only five countries are permanent members where they enjoy the right of Veto. Not a single Muslim country is a permanent member which causes sense of deprivation among Muslims and they are dismayed and disappointed. It must be rectified. The World Muslim Congress will continue to play positive & effective role in the world for achieving peace and creating peaceful environment.

Permit me to mention that in certain countries the desecration of holy prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) and holy Quran has been reported - The caricatures of holy prophet were drawn, displayed and published by electronic & print media. Similarly copies of holy Quran were burnt. But no action was taken against those persons responsible for these heinous crimes. They were given shelter & protection under the garb of freedom of expression. All those who ridicule Islam are awarded titles and asylum like Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen & many others. These nefarious acts are counter productive and the reaction of Muslims in the world is natural. No Muslim can tolerate the sacrilege of Islam, holy prophet and holy Quran. The Muslims are supposed to love the holy prophet more than their parents, children, wealth & themselves.

The U.N.O should enact a law that the desecration of any religion, prophet, spiritual religious leader and books etc should be made cognizable and nonbailable offence, inorder to deter this menace and protect the religious beliefs.

It will frustrate and curb the nefarious designs of all those who want to create misunderstanding among different faiths for their ulterior motives. We the Muslims are commanded by our religion to respect other faiths; hence we can not think of any sacrilegious act pertaining to any faith.

We all must keep in mind that all human beings are the progeny of Adam and Eve. Thus we are interrelated and interconnected. We should try for convergence and not confliction and should disseminate the message of commonality instead of diversity. The stench of hatred and bias be replaced by the fragrance of love and affection. Bigotry be replaced by tolerance, preposterous and ludicrous propaganda should be crushed by realistic approach of peace and forgiveness. Lukewarm attitude should be moulded and changed into cordiality and compassion. If we adopt the above mentioned principles, it will result in the dawn of new era of peace and tranquility and human resources will be used for the betterment of humanity and alleviation of poverty.

I would appeal to the enlightened people of different faiths to lend their co-operation and support to the World Muslim Congress to achieve the noble objectives of reconciliation & peace. Let us try to search the commonality and not the diversity in our faiths. The world needs our united efforts to combat and crush all evils. My special appeal to the followers of three Abrahmic faiths, the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims to get together on a common platform as they have much in common and have a common patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim) P.B.U.H. Let them play a dominant and leading role in this context.

(Speech at the Council Meeting of WMC Colombo Nov 13-14, 2011).

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