This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-15044797
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Muslim peace conference condemns terrorism | Muslim peace conference condemns terrorism |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of Muslims have attended a peace conference in London which has condemned terrorism. | |
About 12,000 Muslims gathered at Wembley Arena for Islamic group Minhaj-ul-Quran's Peace for Humanity Conference. | |
The conference launched a campaign to get one million people to sign an online declaration of peace by 2012. | |
Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said the conference would send a message that 10 years of extremist activity should end. | |
'Love and smiles' | 'Love and smiles' |
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is the founder of Minhaj-ul-Quran and gave the keynote speech at the event, despite having received death threats after issuing a fatwa - or religious ruling - against terrorism last year. | |
The cleric was repeatedly applauded during his address in which he said the "terrible" 9/11 attacks in the US had distorted perceptions of Islam over the past decade. | |
Normally it's pop stars who attract the big crowds at Wembley Arena. Today it is the renowned Islamic scholar Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. | Normally it's pop stars who attract the big crowds at Wembley Arena. Today it is the renowned Islamic scholar Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. |
You can even see posters of him on the buses travelling through the streets near the stadium. | You can even see posters of him on the buses travelling through the streets near the stadium. |
But his message is a serious one. He preaches that there are no conditions under which extremism and the violence it endorses can be excused. | But his message is a serious one. He preaches that there are no conditions under which extremism and the violence it endorses can be excused. |
It's a message that has found a big audience here at Wembley but one which has ironically made him the subject of death threats from those who don't believe in peace. | It's a message that has found a big audience here at Wembley but one which has ironically made him the subject of death threats from those who don't believe in peace. |
He told the audience: "In spite of statements and memorandum and condemnation of the terror, the voices of the 99% true, peace-loving Muslims have not been heard, they have been drowned out by the clamour and the noise of extremists. | |
"Islam has nothing to do with any act of terrorism. We reject every act of extremism and terrorism unconditionally." | |
The event, which took one year to organise, was attended by people from across the UK, many of whom arrived in coaches. | |
Tickets cost £12 or, for VIP entry, £35. | |
Those who attended heard a series of lengthy and impassioned speeches, some in Arabic, from Islamic scholars denouncing terrorism and extremism. | |
And there were prayers for peace from representatives from a number of different religions including the Bishop of Barking, the Rt Rev David Hawkins, Jewish rabbis and representatives from the Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh faiths. | |
The declaration of peace included a call for democracy and good governance in the Muslim world, respect for human rights, and alleviation of poverty throughout the world. | |
Video messages of support from politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, opposition leader Ed Miliband and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles were also due to be played along with a collective multi-faith prayer. | Video messages of support from politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, opposition leader Ed Miliband and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles were also due to be played along with a collective multi-faith prayer. |
Are you going to the peace conference? Send us your stories using the form below. | Are you going to the peace conference? Send us your stories using the form below. |