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Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has invited former President of Iran Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is also President of Iran's Expediency Council and Chairman of the Council of Experts, to attend the International Islamic Dialogue Conference.
A galaxy of prominent Islamic religious leaders, scholars and thinkers as well as officials of Islamic centres and associations and university professors from across the world will take part in the conference, which will begin in Makkah on May 31. The Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) will hold the three-day conference.
In a meeting with Rafsanjani in Tehran on Wed-nesday, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Iran Ahmad Al Sanoosi handed King Abdullah's invitation to Rafsanjani, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ambassador said that King Abdullah attaches great importance to Rafsanjani's participation due to his great status in the Muslim world.
Pinning hopes on the conference in further bolstering solidarity in the Muslim world, Al Sanoosi explained that the conference aims to enhance cooperation between the Muslim world on one hand, and its relations with other states on the other.
Rafsanjani expressed his appreciation for the invitation, emphasising the importance of holding such a conference in Makkah in view of the current circumstances witnessed by the Muslim world.
Reconciliation
He said that in light of the participation of scientific and religious figures in the world, it is expected that the three-day event will yield good results in bringing reconciliation and cordial relations in the Muslim world as well as in eliminating tension and disputes between countries, especially Islamic states.
Citing the massacres, destruction and clashes in some Islamic countries, particularly in Iraq and Lebanon, as the key reasons behind the increasing rift among Muslims, Rafsanjani said he hoped the Makkah conference could create a better atmosphere for cooperation among Islamic countries.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdullah Al Turki, secretary-general of (MWL), told Gulf News that the conference would set the parameters for dialogue with other civilisations and religions.
The conference will come out with specific suggestions and declarations with regard to the concept of dialogue, its goals and its true spirit as advocated by the Quran and the Prophet's Traditions (Hadith). Dr Al Turki also highlighted MWL's relentless efforts in promoting dialogue among various civilisations and religions throughout the world.
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