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Hisham Aljundi
Doha
The 13th Doha Interfaith Dialogue Conference kicked off on Tuesday under the theme"Religion and Human Rights", with participants calling for protecting human rights and preserving human dignity.
The two-day conference saw 500 participants from 70 countries attending on the first day.
The participants noted that human rights have become a global issue of concern for the international community, necessitating united efforts to protect them without discrimination of colour, religion or race.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad al Muraikhi said,"Despite the growing international interest in the protection and promotion of human rights, it is regrettable that there are gross violations now more than ever before."
In this context, he referred to the unjust siege imposed on Qatar, stressing that the blockade constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights, and of not only national laws and regional and international conventions, but also of religious principles and values.
Muraikhi said it is incumbent on all to dedicate efforts to meet the challenges that impede the promotion and protection of human rights and there is a need to address all forms of violations of these rights.
Abdelfattah Mourou, first deputy speaker of Tunisian parliament, said religions should not be used as a means to violate rights and destroy human values that are cherished by the divine religions and backed by international conventions.
Dr Aisha Yousef al Mannai, director of Muhammad Bin Hamad al Thani Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization, said the continuation interfaith meet every year reflects the cultural and humanitarian face of Qatar in spreading the culture of dialogue, tolerance and coexistence among societies, emphasising the tolerance of Islam and its call for peace and human dignity.
