RIYADH, 6 March — Rejecting the trend that links Islam with terrorism, Dr. Abdullah Jasiby, chairman of the executive council of the Federation of Islamic Universities, stated here yesterday that the council will not discuss the issue of changing the syllabuses of Islamic educational institutions, as demanded by the United States.
“We totally reject the move to link Islam with terrorism. It’s not acceptable because it’s the Muslims who are the victims of terrorism,” Jasiby told reporters after the opening session of the meeting at Riyadh’s Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University.
Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijri, director general of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), blasted the foreign media campaigns against Islamic universities.
“It’s part of a fierce campaign by the enemies of Islam, exploiting the situation after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States,” he added.
“During our meeting, the council will give a befitting reply to this false allegation and expose Israel’s reign of terror against Muslims in Palestine,” said Jasiby, who is also the rector of Azad University in Tehran.
He expressed his hope that the meeting would take suitable decisions on important topics, especially the need to develop contacts between Islamic universities.
The meeting, which was opened by Dr. Muhammad Al-Salem, president of the Imam university, will discuss the issue of distance education, the federation’s budget and its framework plan.
In his address, Jasiby highlighted the significance of higher education to boost the development of Islamic countries.
“Globalization has put additional pressure and requirements on the shoulders of Islamic universities and education officials should consider these and in particular make use of modern technological developments,” he added.
Tuwaijri, director general of ISESCO, said the meeting was held at a time when the Islamic world was facing many challenges.
“We have to strengthen the cultural ability of our people to ward off influences of globalization,” he added.
He said that ISESCO will do its best to develop syllabuses in tune with modern developments.
