ID :
14537
Fri, 08/01/2008 - 10:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14537
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ISLAMOPHOBIA IN A'LIA IRRATIONAL FEAR : A'LIAN SCHOLAR
Jakarta, Aug 1 (ANTARA) - An Australian scholar said Islamophobia in Australia was an irrational fear as Australian society was a multicultural one where any religion could be practiced.
"However, there are a few small groups who seem to find it necessary to speak ill about Islam," said Professor Emeriitus of Sciology Gary Bouma at a press conference during the ongoing Third International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS III) here Thurday.
Bouma who is also head of UNESCO's interreligious and intercultural relations for Asia Pacific said there were people in the west who were actively trying to spread Islamophobia and their efforts were being supported by non-religious parties.
It was possible Islamophobia had became a constraint to efforts to achieve world peace, he said, adding Islamophobia was a collective memory formed at the time of the Crusades over a thousand years ago.
"Nevertheless, Australia is a multicultural society where mutual respect, harmony, and acceptence prevail," he said.
Bouma is a participant in a parallel discussion in ICIS III where on Wednesday he presented a paper on "Peace and Globalization."Some 350 delegates from 64 countries-- including 27 international figures and 13 Indonesian figures, sre taking part in the three-day conference organized by Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization.
The conference has five objectives : obtaining an objective and comprehensive portrait of crises in the Islamic world, forming common perceptions on the anatomy of conflicts, preventing conflicts based on a common awareness, identifying and examining the Muslim world's strengths and weaknesses, and enhancing solidarity against Islamophobia and Muslimphobia.
At the end of the conference an action plan called "Jakarta Message" outlining the gist of its results is to be issued to serve as reference for follow up actions.
Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla and NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi would make remarks to close the coference'on Friday (August 1).
"However, there are a few small groups who seem to find it necessary to speak ill about Islam," said Professor Emeriitus of Sciology Gary Bouma at a press conference during the ongoing Third International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS III) here Thurday.
Bouma who is also head of UNESCO's interreligious and intercultural relations for Asia Pacific said there were people in the west who were actively trying to spread Islamophobia and their efforts were being supported by non-religious parties.
It was possible Islamophobia had became a constraint to efforts to achieve world peace, he said, adding Islamophobia was a collective memory formed at the time of the Crusades over a thousand years ago.
"Nevertheless, Australia is a multicultural society where mutual respect, harmony, and acceptence prevail," he said.
Bouma is a participant in a parallel discussion in ICIS III where on Wednesday he presented a paper on "Peace and Globalization."Some 350 delegates from 64 countries-- including 27 international figures and 13 Indonesian figures, sre taking part in the three-day conference organized by Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization.
The conference has five objectives : obtaining an objective and comprehensive portrait of crises in the Islamic world, forming common perceptions on the anatomy of conflicts, preventing conflicts based on a common awareness, identifying and examining the Muslim world's strengths and weaknesses, and enhancing solidarity against Islamophobia and Muslimphobia.
At the end of the conference an action plan called "Jakarta Message" outlining the gist of its results is to be issued to serve as reference for follow up actions.
Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla and NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi would make remarks to close the coference'on Friday (August 1).
