Dhaka, 100,000 clerics demonstrate against terrorism
Rally marked the 42nd anniversary of the Islamic Foundation with two Islamic scholars from Makkah and Madinah as guests of honour. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated solidarity with the Saudi king, urging Islamic countries to join forces in a concerted campaign to eliminate extremism.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – About 100,000 people, including ulemas, imams and others, took to the streets of Dhaka yesterday to protest against the latest wave of terrorism in the country on the 42nd anniversary of the Islamic Foundation, an organisation associated with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Speaking during the ceremony at the Suhrawardy Udyan, the national memorial, in Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged participants to spread the true message of Islamic education: Muslims killing Muslims in the name of jihad is not Islam; Islam does not say to kill others.
The guests of honour included two important Saudi clerics: Mohammad Bin Nasser Bin Mohammad Al Khuzaim, vice president of the Masjid al-Ḥarām (the Grand Mosque in Makkah) and Al-Masjid an-Nabawī (the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah), and Abdulmehsin Bin Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Qasim, imam and preacher at the Prophet's Mosque.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh urged all Islamic countries to join hands to launch a concerted campaign to eliminate terrorism. She reiterated her solidarity with the Saudi king, saying " We will work together so that no one can undermine our holy religion.”
She went on to bemoan that “Muslims are being killed by Muslims,” noting that arms manufacturers are the first to benefit from terrorism at the cost of Muslim blood.
Islamic Foundation Director General Shameem Afzal joined her in saying that “Islam does not teach to conquer countries,” a view shared by other participants, like Imam Mahamud Hasian who told AsiaNews that he “got the message from the meeting and will sincerely teach people to be against extremism” at his mosque.
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26/03/2024 14:03
