Following a special panel dubbed in as “The Divine Religions on Combat against Terrorism” held under the chairmanship of Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani, the report of this panel was presented in English by His Eminence. It reads:
A panel was held on the divine religions’ views regarding combat against terrorism with lectures delivered by panelists such as Bishop Dr. Farhat, Rubbay Yesroeil Davids, Mr. Abdul Nabi Sattarzadeh and me about religions and terrorism. The presentations were followed with active discussions by other participants.
The "International Conference on the Global Fight against Terrorism” which was held in Iran and also the Islamic Republic of Iran have declared their support and appreciation of this panel describing it as an effort to create peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the world.
This panel welcomed the decision to establish a permanent secretariat for the conference in order to help facilitate the continuation of such conferences in future.
This panel reiterated the fact that all the divine religion are the harbingers of peace and respect for human dignity and that they have no connection with terrorism. It also stressed that the the divine religions condemns acts of terror and terrorist activities in whatever shape and form they may be. No religion allows self-destruction or the killing of innocent people.
The panel emphasized on the fact that the followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism have a history of peaceful coexistence all over the world including Iran and there should be no discord, dispute and gap among the followers of the divine religions.
The subject of Zionism was put forth in the panel and it was stressed that Zionism can never represent Judaism. The Zionists are opposed to all the religions and they are using religion to reach their own political ends and objectives. The occupation of Palestine is a terrorist act by the Zionists.
The panel drew the attention to the fact that the Zionist regime has, since its establishment, carried out terrorist activities and sponsored state terrorism inside and outside of Palestine. Thus it was concluded that this regime is the source of global terrorism. In addition, it was underscored that the Zionist domination of mass media is aimed at justifying the Zionists’ state terrorism.
Ascribing terrorism and extremism to Islam is a part of an overall efforts and activities against Islam. Unfortunately, such activities continue to exist in Western countries due, largely, to the some special groups’ anti-Islamic sentiments and tendencies. The panel appealed all countries to give an end to such anti-Islamic activities and help facilitate peaceful coexistence among the followers of all divine religions.
The panel stressed that illegal and unlawful activities on the part of some specific people should not be generalized and used as a pretext to establish connection between the religions and terrorism. It appealed that all kinds of blasphemous acts and desecration of the religions especially Islam be stopped and prevented.
It also stressed that the theoretical and sociological approaches of Islam and other religions deny any kinds of relationship between the religions and terrorism.
The panel underscored the fact that the role of divine religions in spreading justice and fighting discrimination, poverty and foreign hegemony and occupation as some of the factors leading to terrorism, should be further discussed, examined and defined. The panel expressed deep concern over desecration of religious values and sanctities in the name of more freedom and also the blasphemous opinions which result in violence and enmity among nations.
Office of Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani