Morocco hosts panel on protection of rights of religious minorities

Religious leaders and scholars from around the world were in Marrakech, Morocco, to attend an international summit aimed at safeguarding the rights of religious minorities in Muslim countries.

Representatives of Christians, Jewish, Muslims, Hindus and Sikl from around the world gathered at the event to discuss critical issues facing religion and believers.

The summit titled, ‘The Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Lands: Legal Framework and a Call to Action’ will also bring together global academicians and government officials.

Marrakech Declaration will be published with the aim of protecting religious groups.

The document would update the principles of the charter of Medina, the first Muslim constitution that outlines rights of minorities under the Islamic law.

Representative of the Bahraini Ministry of Justice, Fareed Bin Yacoub Al-Miftah said all Muslims need to question their language and behaviour in order to understand one another and other religions.

The conference is taking place at a time when global religion is facing attacks from the Islamic State militants.

The group killed members of Yazidi, one of the oldest region in Iraq along with some Christians and other religious minority in the middle east.

The Supreme Mufti of Russia, Talgat Tajuddin, said both Muslims and people of other faiths misunderstand the teachings of Islam.

“We cannot say that it is only the West that ignores our principles. We Muslims do not know a lot about the objectives of Sharia and the Sunna left to us by the Prophet who says that the true Muslim is the one who does not harm Muslims either by his hand or his tongue,” he said.

He also noted that the best people are those who are more useful to others.