IRNA � Participants in the third seminar of dialogue between Islam and Buddhism emphasized the role of religious leaders in promoting peace all over the world.


The seminar of 'Dialogue between Islam and Buddhism: Interfaith Visions for Humanity' was held on March 15-16 in the Thai university Chulalongkorn and Heritage Hotel in Bangkok.

The event was an initiative by the cultural attach� office of Iran's embassy in Thailand, held in cooperation with Chulalongkorn University and some local Muslim groups.

On the first day of the seminar, that was attended by the representative of the Thai minister of culture, a number of Buddhist monks from Myanmar and Sri Lanka, and some Iranian officials, the chancellor of the Thai university Bundhit Eua-arporn described the seminar as a step toward dialogue and more amity among the followers of religions.

In the final statement, the participants declared, 'religion�s leaders and scholars should denounce, oppose and condemn those who destroy peace among us in the name of religion in order to prevent crisis in human societies which could lead to using weapons to start wars or conflicts.'

'Neither Islam, nor Buddhism, inherently, allows violence and harassment, discrimination and deprivation towards followers of other religions, they always recommend peace and kindness towards other people. All types of intolerance, extremism and violence using religious coverage as followers duties, are condemned and disgusted and opposed by all participants in this seminar.'

The participants also stressed that 'religions have a significant role in resolving humanitarian issues in contemporary societies because all religious teachings emphasize believers to keep moral principles, tranquility, peace, and generosity towards each other.'

They called for the continuance of religious dialogue, 'particularly the dialogue between Islam and Buddhism'.

The statement also said that the Center for Interreligious Dialogue of the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed its readiness to hold next session in Tehran in 2019.

The required arrangements and co-ordinations will be done by the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bangkok, according to the statement.