In the context of
increasing geopolitical instability and tension in the world, it is important
to maintain understanding and tolerance at all levels. Religion should not be
turned into a tool for political manipulation, as stated by Khaled Akasheh, the
Bureau Chief for Islam at the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at
Vatican City, in an exclusive interview with the Silk Way TV channel. He noted
that faith should not be used to incite violence or for blind fanaticism.
Additionally, the representative of the Pontifical Council underscored the
importance of interreligious dialogue. Kazakhstan provides a global platform
for this by hosting the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
“In fact, the
Church affirms always that there’s should not be no instrumentalization or use
of religion for political ends. This is why, what happened unfortunately is that
religion has been used by some to justify violence or to justify also
discrimination of religious or ethnic groups. The right decision is always to
correct and to improve our understanding and practice of our religion,
respecting the right of others to practice their religion or to be without
religion, and cooperating all together for the common good of every person and
of every society,” Akasheh said.
