Academia’s role vital against terrorism: Dr Masoom

Islamabad

Rector of the International Islamic University (IIU) Dr. Masoom Yasinzai has called upon academia to play its role to tackle the menace of terrorism.

Addressing a conference on “Islam, message of peace and moderation” organised by the Muslim World League (MWL), the IIU rector said terrorism has no place in Islam, which gave message of respect to others without hatred.

He emphasized that Islam’s message of peace and moderation is necessary to be disseminated across the world as it would be a source of dealing with the misperception about Islam. The rector said Islam’s message of peace can be spread only through effective dialogue on each and every forum globally.

“Muslim Ummah should accept this very reality that entire Ummah is facing the menace of terrorism and it cannot be tackled militarily, while academia’s involvement in this regard is a meaningful option,” he said.

Dr Masoom noted that universities play a pivotal role in the socio economic uplift of the societies through their involvement in the peace and moderation projects. He added that it was quite unfortunate that role of educational institutions in peace building was being ignored.

The rector said that youth, if properly guided, can do wonders in building peaceful and harmonious society. He was of the view that Muslim Ummah In general and Pakistan in particular has large portion of youth and a good junk of it goes to universities and if these individuals were nurtured in a way that they get balanced personalities integrated with teachings of Islam, it will result in positive developments.

The conference was also attended by the new secretary general of the Muslim World League Abdul Kalam Essa and delegates of various universities. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai invited the MWL secretary general to play his effective role in joint cooperation between all the Muslim countries. He also invited him to visit Pakistan which he accepted and said he will soon be visiting Pakistan in coming months.