On 27th February 2023, International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) in collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia and Prime Minister Department had organized the event entitled INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON ISLAMOPHOBIA: MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MADANI DISCOURSE. The forum was held at Damar Sari Hall, Complex F8, Precint 1, Putrajaya and the invitation was extended to 600 participants from government staff, ambassadors and embassy official, NGO leaders and activist.
The welcoming remarks was done by Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the forum, the closing was done by Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.
The forum featured Dr. Ahmad El- Muhammady, Assistant Professor at International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Professor Ziauddin Sardar, Director of Centre for Postnormal Policy and Futures Studies (CPPFS). The forum was moderated by Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohd Samsudin, Chief Executive Officer of Global Peace Mission (GPM).
The forum was done based on Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim vision of MADANI. The “MADANI” vision is built around six core values namely sustainability, care and compassion, respect, innovation, prosperity and trust. Through the adherence to these key values in its various policies and programmes, the government aims to envelop its various efforts with the spirit of Rahmah (i.e., mercy) and Karamah Insaniah (respect for human dignity).
By valuing and respecting the rights and dignity of every individual, the Malaysian society will be able to demonstrate the beauty of Islam, its teachings and its relevance in facing contemporary challenges. An important aspect of the MADANI vision is the need to honour and respect the rights and dignity of every human being irrespective of colour, religious or socioeconomic background.
The recent public burning of the Qur’an by extremists in Sweden, the mass murder of Muslims during a congregation prayer in a mosque in New Zealand, the ban of minarets on mosques in Switzerland, the refusal by some European governments to accept Muslim refugees fleeing wars in the Middle East and the continuing harassment of Muslim women who choose to wear the Hijab in various Western countries are just but a few poignant examples of this corrosive Islamophobia that currently plagues many Western and other non-Muslim societies.
The objective of the forum are:-
- To present Malaysia as a model of tolerance, harmony and healthy multi-religious and multicultural engagement;
- To provide a platform for dialogue and intellectual discussions on the causes, processes and the proper responses needed to counter issues of Islamophobia, religious intolerance and discrimination
- To provide an opportunity for institutional and social collaboration as well as networking among stakeholders towards fighting Islamophobia and religious discrimination;
- promote better understanding towards Islam and Muslims both locally and internationally;
IIIT is hopeful that the forum will be beneficial in fostering cooperation and understanding among Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia and around the world.
To watch the recording of forum and officiating speech by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, click here:-
Forum
PM Speech