Morocco calls for recognizing Muslim contribution to universal heritage

Muslim contribution to the universal heritage must be recognized, said in Rabat on Thursday Morocco's Islamic Affairs minister, Ahmed Taoufiq.

"Islamic history per se is part of the world's cultural heritage and set of values," added Taoufiq, in a speech given in a conference, themed: "Islam: Perceptions and realities," at the initiative of the British Council, as part of a series of debates scheduled on the occasion of the visit to Morocco of a delegation from the Oxford University Centre of Islamic Studies.

For Farhan Nizami, Director of the Centre "it's no longer possible for people to live in ignorance of each other," stressing that during "these unique times, Muslims must meet the challenges of modernity and globalisation," which are issues to which the whole of humanity is engaged.

While Muslims don't have to be "apologetic about themselves as Muslims," they should indeed endeavour to be part of the mainstream, said Nizami, stressing that "Islamic faith provides for values to reach out to the world."

"Mutual demonology, caricature and stereotype must be dismantled and bridges of mutual understanding laid in their stead, provided they be solid enough to support the weight of differences," said Nizami.

The Registrar of Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies, David Browning, stigmatized current attempts to associate Islam with terrorism, adding that he had never "seen a conclusion that terrorism is somehow associated with being Irish," in spite of all the violence that Ireland has witnessed.

Deploring the fact that knowledge of Islam in the West comes mainly from newspapers, Browning called on Muslims to meet the challenges of the mainstream and bring out Islamic values that can benefit the whole humanity.

Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is a world famed meeting place. The Centre holds academic activities that featured in the past Prince of Wales, who is at the same time the Centre's Honorary Chairman, Nelson Mandela, Benazir Bhuto and Kofi Annan.