RIYADH, 13 October 2005 — Noting that poverty and lack of education provide fertile breeding grounds for terrorism, British Ambassador Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles said the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) was addressing the challenges on both fronts.
He was speaking at the annual iftar party organized by WAMY as part of its outreach program. Dr. Saleh Al-Wohaibi, secretary general of WAMY, and Dr. Saleh Babear, assistant secretary-general, were among those present.
Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farook, Uzbekistan Ambassador Ulugbek Israilov, Rob Dekker, head of Economic and Commercial Affairs at The Netherlands Embassy, and Nicola Orlando, second secretary, Italian Embassy, were all praise for WAMY’s outreach program which they said could help create a better understanding of charitable organizations and their activities.
Dr. Al-Wohaibi referred to the disasters around the world and said WAMY was crossing international frontiers in providing relief and rehabilitation to the victims. Pointing out that no nation was immune from natural disasters, he stressed the need for international cooperation in attempts to help the victims.
Speaking in Arabic, the British ambassador said WAMY was doing a good job of building bridges of understanding with the diplomatic community. He quoted the Qur’anic verse: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things.)” — Surah 49, Verse 13
On the question of Muslims being targeted in Britain because of security concerns, the ambassador said those involved do not represent the true image of Islam which is a religion of peace and tolerance. Moreover, there are Christian and Jewish extremists so no one is targeting the Muslim community as a whole. “The overwhelming majority of Muslims are peace-loving,” he said.
