The Hindu : International : Musharraf urges Muslims to move on path of development

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006

International

International

Musharraf urges Muslims to move on path of development

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Concept of jihad is being confused with militancy, terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said the concept of jihad was being confused with militancy, suicide bombings and terrorism.

Addressing an international conference on "Universality of the message of the Holy Prophet (SAW)" under the auspices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs here, Gen. Musharraf said the `Jihand-e-Akbar' was against illiteracy, backwardness, hunger and disease.

But some people preached militancy as a form of jihad, which reinforced the misperceptions about Islam.

The way forward for the 1.5 billion Muslims was to achieve industrialisation and move on the path of socio-economic development by rejecting extremism and terrorism.

He said the Organisation of Islamic Countries had to be strengthened for the collective well being of the Ummah (Muslim community) through reforms and restructuring, which was being undertaken by the organisation.

Gen. Musharraf urged the West to help resolve longstanding political disputes, including Palestine and Kashmir, in a "just manner" and address the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. He called upon the industrialised countries to assist the less-developed states socio-economically.

He sought the support of the Ulema and religious scholars in defeating extremism and terrorism and projecting the true values and real essence of Islam, which stood for peace tolerance, and harmony.

"Extremism is detrimental to progress and development," he said and reiterated his resolve to fight terrorism with forces and counter-extremism with a holistic strategy. Sectarian organisations that were fanning hatred would not be allowed to operate and publication and distribution of hate material would be stopped.

It would also be ensured that mosques were not used for provocation and hatred.

They would be again converted into centres of knowledge and excellence, as they were five hundred years ago, when Muslims excelled in science and technology, culture, economy and trade.

Educational reforms

On reforms in the education sector, President Musharraf said the new syllabus and curriculam would be in conformity with modern times to meet the requirement of scientific advancement and socio-economic development.

Islam, which stood for tolerance, peace and harmony and modernisation, was being viewed in the West as a religion of militancy, intolerance and extremism.

Such misperceptions were reinforced by certain religious elements advocating extremism and militancy and fanned sectarian intolerance.

Gen. Musharraf said the Muslim Ummah was facing enormous challenges as it lagged behind in science and technology, industrial advancement and human resource development. Despite possessing 70 per cent of the energy resources and 40 per cent of raw material, the collective GDP of the entire Ummah was less than a single industrialised state.

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