Promoting proximity: Islamic scholars meet in Doha

The Doha Conference for Dialogue of Islamic Schools of Thought concluded Monday condemning sectarian war between Sunnis and Shias in Iraq and appealing to followers of all Islamic schools to respect each other's beliefs and sanctities.

The conference was dominated by the issues that currently dictate relations between Islam's two main sects -- sectarian violence in Iraq and the growing influence of Iran in the region. A fervent call from all participating scholars urged an end to conflict that is undermining Iraq's unity.

Participants "condemn the sectarian war between Sunnis and Shias unfolding in Iraq, which is conducive to [its] fragmentation," read a statement issued at the end of the conference attended by more than 200 Muslim scholars and thinkers. The scholars also stressed that the whole Arab-Islamic nation should be united in the face of what they called "serious challenges and aggressions on the umma [nation]."

The scholars, from 44 countries and representing various Islamic sects, said the shedding of Muslim blood and attacks on Muslim properties were prohibited in Islam. They denounced all "crimes perpetrated along sectarian lines" and urged adherents of various Islamic sects to "respect" one another.

The conference -- organised by the Qatari College of Sharia in cooperation with Al-Azhar University and the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought -- called on the rulers of Arab and Muslim countries to enhance the efforts of scholars to achieve unity and foster dialogue among the various Islamic schools of thought. They urged the formation of an international scientific forum with Doha as its headquarters and scholars comprising the Sunni, Shia, Ebadhi and Zaidia schools of thought to be tasked with enhancing the proximity of Islam's sects.

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