King of Jordan Meets US Religious Leaders

posted on: Apr 23, 2009

His Majesty King Abdullah underlined on Monday the important role of religious leaders in supporting efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Middle East as part of a comprehensive peace that ends the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.

At separate meetings with representatives of several Islamic, Christian and Jewish organisations yesterday, the Monarch emphasised the need to deepen values of tolerance and acceptance of other faiths and to work jointly towards resolving conflicts in accordance with principles that ensure justice to all.

King Abdullah met with Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of of the Islamic Centre of America in Detroit.

Also present were Imam Mohammad Majid of the ADAMS Centre and Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the US.

At the meeting, the Monarch commended the efforts these groups exert to support peace efforts in the region and communication among different religions and civilisations.

King Abdullah stressed the need to work effectively towards protecting holy Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem and to resist any attempts to threaten these sacred sites or change their religious identity.

Those present at the meeting commended Jordan’s role in enhancing inter-religious dialogue and working to achieve peace in the region, referring to the 2004 Amman Message that promotes tolerance and moderation. They also referred to the Common Word initiative launched in 2007, encouraging religious tolerance.

Also Monday, King Abdullah met with a delegation of Reform Jewish religious leaders who support peace in the region and the two-state solution as a means to bring about stability.

The Monarch also discussed the role of these leaders in pushing for a just settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and comprehensive peace in the region.

The meeting also focused on the need to coordinate all efforts to enhance the culture of peace, stability and security in the region.

Jordan Times

Picture caption:
His Majesty King Abdullah meets with religious leaders in Washington, DC on Monday
(Photo by Yousef Allan)