Jammu and Kashmir: Scholars, religious leaders from all faiths unanimously condemn recent killing of Kashmiri Pandits

According to a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the conference is being organised by the Anjuman Sharie’s Interfaith dialogue Chapter and it will revolve around the theme “Mitigating horizontal tensions is the need of the hour”.

President Jammu and Kashmir Anjuman-E-Sharie Shian Aga Syed Hassan Mosavi said that he believes that the essence of belief in God and service to the people of God can be found in all Divine religions.

“This Conference, teaches us how to sit together for a dialogue according to the tenets of the Holy Quran and the way of life and conduct of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to make a safe and sound world free from “sectarianism, extremism, war and bloodshed,” Syed Hassan Mosavi said.

He added that interfaith dialogue is essential to avoid fanaticism which leads to confusion.

“The selfish evil forces with vested interest promote fanaticism to divide and to create communal disharmony to fulfill their selfish desires. But interfaith dialogue provides space for people of different religions to come together and discuss their religions, clarify the doubts and promote inter-religious understanding and creates inter-religious relations, which avoids frictions between religious and religious communities," he said.

As per the statement the conference was attended by president J&K Anjuman-E-Sharie Shian Aga Syed Hassan Mosavi Al-Safavi Grand Mufti J&K Mufti Nasir ul Islam, Syed Shamas Rehman, General Secretary Muthid Majlis Ulema, Moulana Kurshid Ahmed Kanoon Gou, Chairman Himayat ul Islam, Moulana Abdul Lateef (Mirwaiz West Kashmir), Moulna Sheikh Abdul Majeed (Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust, Kargil) Sajjad Hussain Kargili, Allama Sheikh Hassan Jaffari ( Imam Jomah Askardu, who addressed the gathering through TelePhone) Sanjay Saraf, Poster Paul and Dr Jhon Philps( Representative from Christan Community) Tesewang Rigzin, Lama Nawang Paljor Karpo (Represntative from Buddhist Community )Depty Singh Ji (Pracharak Shri Gurudwara Prabandhak Commitee Amritsar Sahab), Satpal Singh, President Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee Budgam, Ravinder Pandita (Save Sharda Commiteee).

It further said in the joint resolution they said that since they live in multicultural and multi religious society dialogue is very essential for unity and well being.

“Plurality is a basic and fundamental fact of the Kashmiri society and everyone has to understand this pluralistic nature of Kashmir society. Every religion also has to be pluralistic in its own perspective and promote this pluralism among its adherents," read the statement.

It added that inter-faith dialogue has to contribute towards communal harmony and the welfare of humanity.

It said that a joint resolution unanimously condemned the target killings of Pandit Community members and non-locals and they expressed total solidarity with them.

They urged for unity among communities to thwart evil designs of vested interest and called for more such interfaith dialogue across Kashmir to bridge the gaps and let the flower of Kashmir’s brotherhood, amity and affinity bloom.

The Resolution also called for early release of Mirwaiz Kashmir Dr Molvi Muhammad Umer Farooq from house detention and removal of restriction imposed on Historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar.