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It's easy to see why some participants were fuming about the document issued on their behalf. It is presented below in its entirety. Note the predictable platitudes about "justice" and "respect," along with more ominous pledges to badger governments and international organizations about the "denigration" of religions.
The Declaration is in Parts 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Saudi Press Agency's "World Conference on Dialogue concluded Madrid," July 18:
Following that, MWL Assistant Secretary General Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Zaid read Madrid Declaration issued by the World Conference on Dialogue. Following is the text of Madrid Declaration:
"In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe, and may the peace and blessings of God be upon all His prophets and messengers.
In response of the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Muslim World League organized the World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid, Spain, during the period 13 to 15 / Rajab / 1429 AH, corresponding to 16 to 18 / July / 2008.
The participants in the conference; followers of the world religions and cultures express their profound gratitude for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his generous patronage and inauguration of the conference and for his speech to the participants, which they considered as a major document in the conference.
Furthermore, the participants extend their deep thanks and appreciation for His Majesty Juan Carlos the 1st of Spain for his comprehensive welcome speech and for H.E. Mr. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the prime minister of Spain for his participation in the opening session and for his efforts in the dialogue of civilizations. The participants also thank the Spanish Government for having the conference in Spain. This great country is home to a historical heritage that belongs to the followers of different religions and has contributed to human civilization.
The participants also recall the objectives of the UN Charter, which calls for exerting collective efforts aiming at the enhancement of international relations, the creation of an exemplary human community and the promotion of dialogue as a civilized way for cooperation.
The participants further remind all people of the Declaration of the UN General Assembly in 1994, which called for tolerance and the spread of the culture of peace, and also ask that they recall the declarations of 1995 as the Year of Tolerance and 2001 as the Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations.
The participants commend the Appeal of Makkah issued by the World Islamic Conference on Dialogue, which was called for by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and organized by the Muslim World League earlier this year (2008).
The participants build on the agreement among the followers of religions and prominent cultures regarding the value of dialogue as the best way of mutual understanding and cooperation in human relations as well as in peaceful coexistence among nations. In light of the above, the participants affirm the following principles:
1- Unity of humankind in the original creation and the equality among human beings irrespective of their colors, ethnic backgrounds and cultures.
2- Purity of the nature of humans; as they were created liking good and disliking evil, inclining to justice and avoiding injustice. Such pure nature leads humans to show mercy and to seek certainty and belief.
3- Diversity of cultures and civilizations among people is a sign of God and a cause for human advancement and prosperity.
4- The heavenly messages aims at realizing the obedience of people to their Creator and achieving happiness, justice, security and peace for humankind. These messages seek to enhance ways of understanding and cooperation among people despite differences in their origins, colors and languages. They also call for spreading virtue through wisdom and politeness, and rejecting extremism and terrorism.
5- Respecting heavenly religions, preserving their high status, condemning any insult to their symbols, and combating the exploitation of religion in the instigation of racial discrimination.
6- Observing peace, honoring agreements and respecting unique traditions of peoples and their right to security, freedom and self-determination are the basis for building good relations among all people. Achieving this is a major objective of all religions and prominent cultures.
7- The significance of religion and moral values and the need for humans to revert to their Creator in their fight against crime, corruption, drugs, and terrorism, and in preserving the institution of the family and protecting societies from deviant behaviors.
8- The family is the basic unit of society and its nucleus. Protecting it from disintegration is a cornerstone for any secure and stable society.
9- Dialogue is one of the essentials of life. It is also one of the most important means for knowing each other, cooperation, exchange of interests and realizing the truth, which contributes to the happiness of humankind.
10- The preservation of the environment and its protection from pollution and other dangers are considered a major object of all religions and cultures.
"Mindful of accomplishing the above principles through dialogue, the conference has thoroughly reviewed the process of dialogue and its obstacles, as well as the catastrophes that afflicted humanity in the 20the Century. The Conference noted that terrorism is one of the most serious obstacles confronting dialogue and coexistence.
"Terrorism is a universal phenomenon that requires unified international efforts to combat it in a serious, responsible and just way. This demands an international agreement on defining terrorism, addressing its root causes and achieving justice and stability in the world.
"Based on the above, the conference has adopted the following recommendations:
1- To reject theories that call for the clash of civilizations and cultures and to warn of the danger of campaigns seeking to deepen conflicts and destabilize peace and security.
2- To enhance common human values, to cooperate in their dissemination within societies and to solve the problems that hinder their achievement.
3- To disseminate the culture of tolerance and understanding through dialogue so as to be a framework for international relations through holding conferences and symposia, as well as developing relevant cultural, educational and media programs.
4- To agree on international guidelines for dialogue among the followers of religions and cultures through which moral values and ethical principles, which are common denominators among such followers, so as to strengthen stability and achieve prosperity for all humans.
5- To work on urging governmental and non-governmental organizations to issue a document that stipulates respect for religions and their symbols, the prohibition of their denigration and the repudiation of those who commit such acts.
To fulfill these desired objectives of dialogue by this conference, the participants have agreed on adopting the following:
1- Forming a working team to study the problems hindering dialogue and preventing it from realizing its desired results. Its task is also to prepare a study that provides visions for the solution of these problems and to coordinate among bodies promoting world dialogue.
2- Cooperation among religious, cultural, educational, and media establishments to deepen and consolidate ethical values, to encourage noble social practices and to confront sexual promiscuity, family disintegration and other vices.
3- Organizing inter-religious and inter-cultural meetings, conducting research, executing media programs and using the Internet and other media for the dissemination of a culture of peace, understanding and coexistence.
4-Promoting the issue of dialogue among the followers of religions, civilizations and cultures within youth, cultural, educational, and media activities.
5- Calling upon the UN General Assembly to support the results reached by this conference. It is strongly recommended to make use of these recommendations in enhancing dialogue among the followers of religions, civilizations and cultures through conducting a special UN session on dialogue.
The participants express their hope that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will use his good office with the concerned bodies in convening this session as soon as possible. It will be the pleasure of the members of this conference to take part in that session through a representative delegation, members of which are to be chosen by the Muslim World League.
In abiding with the agreed-upon principles and concepts, the participants do emphasize that it is essential for this world dialogue to be open and that its sessions be held periodically.
The participants have extended their profound gratitude to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King of Saudi Arabia, for his kind initiation and invitation to this world dialogue. They have applauded the continued efforts made by the league in the fields of dialogue and cooperation among nations and peoples, hoping that the common objectives, for which humankind aspires, are accomplished".
Issued in Madrid, 15 Rajab 1429 H., 18 July 2008.
Posted by Marisol at July 18, 2008 4:58 PM
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Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
"1- Unity of humankind in the original creation and the equality among human beings irrespective of their colors, ethnic backgrounds and cultures."
Notice it doesn't say "faith" or "religion". And the belief that men love good and dislike evil makes me wonder why so many people do so many things that are evil.
I think the Bible is more correct when it reveals to us that we are all sinners, and that our hearts are desperately wicked. That idea certainly is borne out by what we see in our world.
Posted by: Stand fast in the liberty![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 18, 2008 5:27 PM
Just another BS and Taquiya from the SAUD and Mohammedanism. Lets face a country that has no Churches that has no Synagogues. Does not allow anyone entering the country to bring any sort of religions item(excluding Mohammedanism)into the country. Does not allow non Muslims to come near Mecca where the Kabba is located. Please spare me this stupidity and idiocy of meetings after meetings and dialogs after dialogs, when everyday I see and hear in the news of another Mohammedan plotting to blow up infidels, kidnapping of infidel girls and boys, riots and beating up of clerics, priets, monks etc.
The Al Saud is no example. A tyrant who lavishes in decadence and hiring high priced infidel women into in his harem.
Posted by: savsiv at July 18, 2008 5:34 PM
Would I be wrong in considering this a warning to the entire world to convert- or else? Is King Abdullah affirming, in a coded manner, that he and his extended family are funding terrorism outside of Saudi Arabia?
chsw
Posted by: chsw at July 18, 2008 6:01 PM
There's plenty of flimflammery in this document, but I noticed "Principle 7" has some rather problematic language for seculr humanist democratic societies which thruve on man-made laws. Specifically, when a bunch of Muslims call for the necessity and desirability to "revert to their creator in their fight against crime, corruption, drugs, and terrorism", we know those Muslims are not referring to those secular laws on which our civilization is dependent, nor are they referring to a similar framework as that which we employ to determine "crime, corruption, ... and terrorism." When Muslims refer to these things, they specifically and explicitly are measuring such transgressions in relation to Islamic Sharia, and only that.
In short, "Principle 7" is a subtle but explicit call to Islam, and an explicit rejection of the secular laws and nature of our entire civilization. It is brazen, and outrageous.
Posted by: jsla at July 18, 2008 6:03 PM
Translation:
"Respecting heavenly religions, preserving their high status, condemning any insult to their symbols, and combating the exploitation of religion in the instigation of racial discrimination."
'Respect' means submission. We are to prostrate ourselves in front of the adherents of this bloody Arab cult.
"Heavenly religions?" There is only one and that's the one of the profit. "Instigation of racial discrimination" is dangerous nonsense, because it deliberately conflates race with ideology, no can do!
"Common Human Values" means Islam and Muslims only, because only the followers of the meshugga profit are human. Unbelievers are the 'vilest of creatures', remember?
'Dialogue' as we all know means da'awa and the unhindered spread of Islam in the Western hemisphere.
'Evil' means opposing Islam.
'Tolerance' means for infidels to tolerate the intolerant. It means infidels must look at the destruction of their culture and civilization as a blessing.
'Justice'- as always means sharia.
at July 18, 2008 6:26 PM
Last sentence is most revealing:
"The participants have extended their profound gratitude to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King of Saudi Arabia, for his kind initiation and invitation to this world dialogue. They have applauded the continued efforts made by the league in the fields of dialogue and cooperation among nations and peoples, hoping that the common objectives, for which humankind aspires, are accomplished".
Translation of 'common objectives:'
All of you who are on the payroll of the King know your duties:
Now you are to assist in every way and wherever you are to spread the Wahabi doctrine until all the world submits to Allah.
at July 18, 2008 6:42 PM
High-sounding principles, indeed. Too bad that neither the Saudis nor the other Islamic countries live up to them.
Posted by: ebonystone at July 18, 2008 7:17 PM
To help avoid lexical difficulties in dealing with duplicitous enemies with ulterior motives, might I suggest that our "participants", when considering future "interfaith" endeavors, should try to choose an entity to entertain that doesn't consider the word "ecumenical" to mean "ready to be used for da'wa".
Fool you once, shame on them; fool you twice, shame on you (and your faith, and your office, etc.). Stupid dhimmis.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen at July 18, 2008 9:30 PM
"to entertain"
Just to be clear, yes, I know that al-Saud hosted. I mean, humor their views. You did intend to politely listen, merely waiting for opportunity to share your faith... right? Why else would you be there? To put out a document rife with Islamic theology, even starting with the Basmala: Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim, In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful?
Posted by: Concerned Citizen at July 18, 2008 9:44 PM
Typical venomous Saudi crap, Fully expected.
Thanks for the heads up, Marisol.
Posted by: awake at July 18, 2008 11:18 PM
This is quite obviously a Muslim document. It shows no consideration whatsoever for the persons of other religions in attendance. As other posters have noted, there are assertions that are presumably intended by the organizers in a sense opposed to the Christian faith. Of more general social concern is the instrumentalization of the conference to advocate criminalization of non-Muslim expression.
In short, the non-Muslim participants have been outrageously used.
at July 19, 2008 3:53 AM
The proper counter-move to this would be for Benedict XVI to call a gathering in Rome to which the spiritual leaders of all the major kafir groups - all the Christian confessions, together with the Jews, the Hindus, the Sikhs, the Taoists, the Buddhists (Thais, and Chakma from Bangladesh, expressly invited), and every other group that has ever suffered and is still suffering the miseries of Muslim aggression and oppression - are invited to discuss the question: What Do We Do About Islam? Atheists and agnostics would be cordially invited to attend as well.
And where, first of all, they get to simply sit down and listen to people like Mr Spencer, and Bat Yeor and Andrew Bostom, and Bill Warner of 'Centre For the Study of Political Islam', and from the apostates/ defectors, such as Patrick Sookhdeo and Magdi Cristiano Allam and Nonie Darwish and Wafa Sultan and Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Ibn Warraq and Ali Sina, EXACTLY what Islam is about, what it has always done wherever it has power, and what it intends for the world.
After that, there can be discussions on practical ways to help each other to resist and defeat the Jihad in all its forms. Perhaps Mr Warner, Mr Geert Wilders, and Ms Ayaan Hirsi Ali, with Bat Yeor, could guide the brainstorming sessions.
I can dream, can't I?
Posted by: dumbledoresarmy at July 19, 2008 7:03 AM
"The significance of religion and moral values and the need for humans to revert to their Creator in their fight against crime, corruption, drugs, and terrorism, and in preserving the institution of the family and protecting societies from deviant behaviors."
Wow! That's blatant. I do like the "deviant behaviours bit". I assume "deviant" = "whatever the mullah's don't like".
Obviously keeping a well-stocked harem isn't deviant. Oh no, how can it be when the custodian of the two holy mosques has one. Courtesy partly of BAE Systems (allegedly).
Posted by: nick1777 at July 19, 2008 9:25 AM
It is worth noting that the Madrid Declaration contains yet another demand for the repression of free speech regarding Islam and its adherents, scriptures and traditions, in line with those made by OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and UN Special Rapporteur Doudo Diene. For details, see
http://greenspiece.blogspot.com/2008/07/yet-another-call-for-repression.html
Posted by: Papa Whiskey at July 19, 2008 3:26 PM
We can talk and write on this blog as much as we like, and I admire the eloquence of you all, it's brilliant, but at the end of the day it is obvious that we are all very worried about the dangerous muslim invasion into our world and all that that encompasses, and I feel there must do more that can be done. My children have been brainwashed through the education system into peace and love and I wouldn't dare send them these websites, and most of my friends have their heads in the sand too. I feel that the muslim march is the pre-cursor for ww3, and I feel sick inside at the lack of positive action to stop this islamic invasion into the West.
Sorry my comments are not very academic but they express my deep concern.
at July 20, 2008 4:30 AM
I agree, Bee. We are going to have to organize at the local level, and do something to fight back. There should have been intense demonstrations, if not effigy burning riots, outside the Madrid Defamation. We need local efforts to hold leaders and politicians accountable. As to your children, offend them. Deluge them, win them back. So far, I've won over my spouse and most of my coworkers, but contributed to breaking up one of my parent's marriages. Pulling them out of the sand occasionally pops a head off.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen at July 20, 2008 8:56 AM
Note also the mock concern about terrorism, which pretends that the problem is to define terrorism and understand its causes.
Posted by: billposer at July 21, 2008 3:26 AM
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