The decision was taken by the executive committee of the International Interfaith Dialogue India (IIDI). Justice K.A Abdul Gafoor, who presided over the meeting, commended MWL Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Turki for backing the conference. V.K. Abdul Aziz, director of Al-Hayat International School in Jeddah who attended the meeting as a IIDI governing body member, said prominent religious leaders and personalities from around the world would be invited to the three-day event.
“The first day is allocated for the public and media in order to create awareness about the importance of interfaith dialogue,” said Aziz, who has produced three documentaries on interfaith dialogue initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
“During our recent meeting with Dr. Al-Turki, the MWL chief advised us that the Kochi conference should be conducted with the support and participation of other organizations and movements at national and international levels,” he said.
Aziz said a high-level delegation would meet the Indian home minister and foreign minister next month to get the government’s approval for holding the conference. He emphasized the importance of such a conference in India, saying it would promote communal harmony and create greater understanding between the various religious believers and organizations. Film star Jagathy Sreekumar, addressed the meeting and emphasized the need to spread religious and moral values in the society.
He pledged his full support for interfaith dialogue and hoped the upcoming conference would change the face of India.
Jamal Mangada, imam of the Palayam Juma Masjid, made an appeal for building a unified society wherein people would not quarrel on religious grounds. He hoped IIDI’s positive dialogue concept would flourish all over the country.
C. Radhakrishnan, a writer and thinker, urged religious leaders to accommodate the living realities and broaden their outlook while K.P. Ramanunni, an executive member, called upon them to promote real humanitarian values such as love, affection, justice.
