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[sundubuman]

this is such great news.....The Saudis/Wahabis are interested in Dialogue...



Center to Promote Culture of Dialogue
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News


JEDDAH, 14 November 2007 � A center for contemporary Islamic studies and cultural dialogue will soon be established at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh in order to promote a culture of dialogue, Dr. Sulaiman Abalkhail, president of the university announced yesterday.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, an advocate of cultural dialogue, has approved the project. During his historic meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican last week, King Abdullah called for dialogue between Muslims, Christians and Jews in order to promote world peace.

�The center aims at highlighting the greatness of Islam and its ability to tackle modern issues, introduce Islamic laws and teachings and take care of the issues of youth and family,� said Abalkhail. He said the center would also give importance to women�s issues and their rights in Islam, explain Islam�s stand on terrorism and other modern issues and promote a culture of dialogue in society.

�Our university will try to realize the center�s objectives by holding seminars and conferences, translating specialized books and publications and creating a database on how Islam tackles modern issues,� the president said. The university has already begun implementing the project and has appointed Dr. Abdul Kareem Al-Sayegh, a member of the faculty of the Higher Institute of Judiciary, as the center�s undersecretary.

The center will have six units. The first unit will conduct research on modern systems and comparative studies of political, economic and social systems. The second will focus on human rights and will conduct research on women�s issues and rights according to Islam. The third unit will deal with youth issues and problems while the fourth will deal with matters related to combating terrorism. The center�s fifth unit will conduct programs to promote dialogue with other cultures. The sixth unit will deal with family issues, including illiteracy and technological backwardness.

Abalkhail said the center would be financed from different sources including the university�s budget, donations and endowments. The center will also have its own income through research programs, specialized courses and from its investments.

[sundubuman]

I'm guessing that freedom of religion will be next...after this "Culture of Dialogue" is firmly established.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Every journey begins with a step.

[igotthisguitar]