Religious violence termed threat to survival of humanity

Speakers at a seminar while showing grave concern on increase in religious violence have termed it the biggest threat to the survival of humanity. Speaking at a conference organised by Muslim-Christian Federation International (MSFI) here on Monday, they said that recent mass killing of Muslims in New Zealand by a white supremacist is just a glimpse of religious violence.
The speakers further said that following the incident, globally it has been realised that religious violence or Islamophobia is a serious threat facing the modern world. However, following the Christchurch attack, mosques in Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK), were also targeted by same mentality misfit social elements, therefore the civilised world needs to take prompt actions against religious violence. The participants further stressed the need for interfaith dialogue, saying use of forces can't resolve the matter but understanding each other and not interfering in others' religious matters can bring peace to the society.
They further said that United Nations in collaboration with member states must come forward and play an active role in eradicating the religious violence. Civilised world must denounce all forms of violence otherwise it would ruin the humanity, they maintained.
They said that the New Zealand incident is also indicating the emergence of Ku Klux Klan, growing Islamophobia, Nazism, and Xenophobia. Religious leadership across the board can play most critical role to deal with this emerging threat to modern society, they underlined.
Speaking on the occasion Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz said, "Only way forward for peace in the world is accepting that there can be people different than us, and this difference is largely natural." Ayaz said that co-existence not only makes the world beautiful but is considered a sure recipe for progress.
Ayaz agreed that conflicts involving states have often been given religious colours because that is how people understand it to be. He said that in the age of globalisation where people have to interact with those who are different, the way forward is learning how to coexist with each other.
Participants at a daylong dialogue said that a person's identity, whether ethnic or religious or even national, is largely natural, carried since birth. It helps in associating people; even religions say that humans are born with different identities.
Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamosh, Chairman Muslim Christian Federation International (MCFI) said that Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace, adding that interfaith harmony must be promoted not in the country but across the world. He said that governments needs to present realities before the masses and nothing should be kept hidden in various names. He said that world needs to take serious steps, otherwise such incidents would not stop.