Post date: Sep 28, 2013 10:44:46 PM
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly Malaysia's prime minister condemns "the corrosive influence of extremism" that is pitting Shiites and Sunnis against each other and urges moderation to save Islam from unprecedented violence.
UNITED NATIONS (SEPTEMBER 28, 2013) (UNTV) - Malaysia's prime minister Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday (September 28) that the greatest threat to Islam today was coming from within as sectarian violence sweeps across the Middle East following failed revolutions.
He urged Muslim leaders to speak out against violence in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and the Palestinian Territories by preaching Malaysia-style moderation.Although he welcomed the US-Russia agreement that led to a unanimous vote at the UN Security Council to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal he said he opposed any unilateral action against Damascus pushing instead for a Syrian-led inclusive political process of dialogue to resolve the conflict.
Saying violence across so many Muslim countries was counter to the preachings of Islam and condemened those who used religion to settle political scores and vie for power.
But he said moderate Muslim leaders were not powerless.
"Around the world, extremism is taking lives and crushing opportunity. This affects us all; but it is one people, of one faith, who suffer most. I believe the greatest threat to Muslims today comes not from the outside world, but from within. The conflict between Sunni and Shia threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of Muslims. Our religion - founded on peace, and premised on tolerance - is being twisted by extremists, who are deploying false arguments to foster division and justify violence. Across the Islamic world, extremists are wrapping their perverse agenda in religious cloth; tearing families, countries and the Ummah apart. With each new atrocity, tensions are wound tighter, and peace seems further away. The corrosive influence of extremism cannot be easily countered. But we are not powerless to act. I believe moderation in religion and the political process can stem the loss of life and liberty in the Muslim world. Behind the tragic violence, there is a battle being waged for the future of Islam. By reaffirming our commitment to moderation - and solving the political problems that drive instability - we can seize back the centre ground. We can marginalise the extremists. And we can advance an agenda for peace, harmony and justice," said the prime minister.
Razak said the Muslim community, or Ummah, was convulsing and that Syria was facing the risk of descending into a war of ethnic cleansing and urged leaders to practice moderation.
"Around the world, Muslims have watched in despair as conflict tears into some of our oldest communities. Rarely in our history has the Ummah faced violence on this scale. Right now, the world's attention is rightly focused on Syria. United Nations investigators have concluded that the focus of the war has shifted along ethnic and religious lines, and become 'overtly sectarian'. A conflict which began with anti-government protests threatens to descend into a war of ethnic cleansing. We should mistake moderation for weakness. Muslim leaders should speak up and condemn such violence, lest their silence is mistaken for acceptance. Moderation can be practiced at the national level, as is the case in Malaysia, by choosing mutual respect and inclusivity, and strengthening the bonds between different communities and faiths," said Razak
Razak said the Arab Spring had showed that the Muslim world is crying out for change and that governments must answer that call through good governance, prosperous economies, jobs and sustainable growth adding that these were the best weapons against extremism.