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Jakarta meet urges respect for faiths

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: A two-day international conference in Jakarta has unanimously called upon the adherents of each religion to "respect the sensibilities of other faiths." Akhtar-ul-Wasey, Director, Zakir Hussain Institute of Islamic Studies, represented India at the meeting, organised by Indonesia's Muhammadiya outfit.

Indonesian Vice-President Yusuf Kalla, told the delegates from different religions and countries that the upsurge of Muslim sentiments should be seen as a protest of conscience against the Danish cartoons. Mr. Kalla's observation followed calls by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for restraint.

The conference, attended by about 200 representatives of various faiths from 17 countries, adopted a 10-point declaration of "commitments" over a range of issues that centred on the importance of religious values and education for global peace and prosperity.

Dr. Akhthar-ul-Wasey said religious leaders must propose "a common minimum programme for the well-being of mankind." Core religious values could serve as the basis to "ensure the empowerment of the marginalised and deprived sections of society." Noting that the conference had accepted the proposal, he later said, over the telephone from Jakarta, that a parallel objective was to "ensure the democratic values of equality and human dignity."

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