THE NEW WAY FORWARD

With the election of a new American administration headed by President Barrack Hussain Obama, there is cautious optimism and hope that some change in policy will reverse wrongs of the past. President Obama, in his inaugural speech, has also addressed the Muslim world seeking "a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect". Obviously, there is now a realization that the post 9/11 policies of the United States had left the world a more dangerous and unstable world. And the US "war on terror" has become an unwinnable war without end against an enemy that is stateless, nameless and faceless. There is also a wider cleavage in perceptions between the West and Muslim world.

Clearly, the issues and interests that define the contemporary age revolve around a battle of ideas in the chequered and conflicted relationship between Islam and the West. In the interest of both and for the cause of world peace, it is imperative that we move away from confrontation to cooperation based on mutual interests. There is no clash between religions, rather, there is a conflict over perceptions from policies that are deemed detrimental to justice and peace. The Islamic ethos has been spelt out very clearly in the Holy Quran which focuses both on humanity as well as tolerance and coexistence. The spirit of Islamic humanism is exemplified in Sura AI-Maeda, "If anyone kills one persons, it would be as if he killed humanity. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved humanity". Not only is the sanctity of human life supreme, but there is tolerance and coexistence, even for the non-believers as embodied in Surah Al-Kafiroon in the Holy Quran: "To you be your way, and to me mine".

President Barrack Hussain Obama has also pledged that within his first 100 days of his inauguration, he will make a speech to the Muslim World. We feel that a meaningful way to bridge the gap would be to address the core causes of instability, injustice and violence in the Muslim world, particularly the conflicts of Palestine and Kashmir. As recent history has demonstrated, these problems can no longer be wished away nor can they be put on the back burner. The billions of dollars wasted in wars in our region can best be utilized to help fashion the new way forward through spending on development, pal1icularly education, health, infrastructure, promotion and protection of Human Rights including women's rights and minority rights in the Muslim world. The approach has to be to "live and let live" otherwise an infatuation with military might will only degenerate into an unending confrontation with, one side, impressed with its capacity to kill and, the other side, demonstrating a willingness to die.

While the West must avoid double standards on such issues as terrorism, democracy, Human Rights or the nuclear question, Muslims need to move away from the blame game and accept responsibility for their own actions. They have to reshape their own destiny with their own hands and must demonstrate the ability, willingness and readiness to remove the iniquities, failings and injustices of their societies. It is in this spirit of a constructive issue-based dialogue based on a common interest to forge a better tomorrow in this world of inter-dependence that the Council of Islamic Ideology has taken this initiative. We know the problems, we now have to come out with solutions that are doable. We hope that this distinguished gathering of eminent intellectuals, academics, parliamentarians and diplomats will present proposals that can contribute to fresh thinking on how best to bridge the gap between the West and the Muslim world, and how together we can contribute to building a more peaceful and better tomorrow.