The 14th Doha Conference For Interfaith Dialogue kicked off in Doha today under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani under the theme of "Religions and Hate speech... Scriptures and Practice." The conference will be attended by 300 scholars, religious leaders, academics, and invested media personalities from about 70 countries, in addition to their local counterparts. Among them is the Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Dr. Ali Al qaradaghi , and a number of the union's leaders.
In his speech at the conference, His Excellency the Secretary-General indicated the need to pay attention to the issues raised clearly without any compromise on principles or what we believe in, in addition to clarifying the principles of Islam in its call for tolerance, love, coexistence and rejection of hatred and aggression against non-aggressors, and that the great problems it suffers from Our world at various religious, political, economic, social, and environmental levels is caused by the absence of the role of true religion, its values, morals and legislation.
His Eminence emphasized that restoring humanity to its rightful path falls on the shoulders of Muslim scholars, Christian and Jewish scholars, the priest and rabbis, because they have a great influence on the call to tolerance and love and the rejection of racism and sectarianism.
The conference is organized by the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, for the duration of two days, discussing three main topics: The first relates to the concept of hate speech, its causes and motivations, with the focus being on extremist religious rhetoric and its role in the wide spreading of hate speech, and the misunderstanding of religion. In addition to finding ways to solidify the moderate religious rhetoric, and, discussing the issue of the spread of extremist rhetoric amongst some religious and political leaders, and its effects on world peace.
The second topic is titled The Patterns and Forms of Hate Speech, where the participants will discuss the dangers of the spread of hate speech, the incitement of violence and terror, the political utilization of hate speech, the consequences of the spread of hate speech on coexistence and its generation of racism, specifically taking a toll on migrants, religious minorities, and women.
As for the third topic, the discussion will be about The Role of Leaders, Religious Institutions, and Journalists in Combating Hate Speech, The Responsibility of Religious Scholars and the Role of Acts of Worship in Raising Awareness of the Importance of Respecting Religions, and the Media Effect on Limiting Hate Speech, The Role of Religious and Moral Values in Combating Hate Speech, and The Culture of Peace, Coexistence, and Respect of Cultural and Religious Diversity.
Furthermore, the participants in the third topic will discuss the topic of international laws and treaties related to criminalizing hate speech, where the limits of the application of freedom of speech will be investigated, and The protection of freedom of speech in the international and humanitarian law, in addition to the religious and legal frameworks in combating hate speech, and the role of educational, cultural, and artistic institutions in confronting to hate speech, and the spreading of respect and acceptance of diversity.