Calls for Peace From the Brink of Violence
Messages of peace and tolerance were delivered by leading Muslim, Christian, and Jewish religious men three years ago in the southeastern Turkish city of Sanliurfa. Those messages were echoed at the historical Kasimiye Madrasah, an Ottoman era school for higher education located in Mardin. In the symposium, the call to prayer and the sounds of bells were heard at the same time. While Internal Minister, Abdulkadir Aksu, said, "Let's give an olive branch to the world here," Fener Greek Patriarch, Bartholomeos I. complained that the number of people for peace is small and noted that terrorists arrogantly murder innocent people.
The second symposium of this type titled Religions and Peace in the Light of the Common Father Abraham, was organized by the Intercultural Dialogue Platform in Kasimiye. Fethullah Gülen, Honorary President of the Journalists and Writers' Association sent a congratulatory message to the meeting from the United States where he is receiving medical treatment. Stating that sincere friendship as described by the Prophet Abraham, is needed now more than ever, Gülen noted in his message:
"Now Abraham's grandchildren have the most important task of building peace. And in order to perform this duty, conferences with the collaboration of leaders from the three religions in different cities of the world should be gradually increased." (Seyhmus Edis, Mustafa Ozke)
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