RIYADH — Italian President Sergio Mattarella received Secretary General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Muslim Scholars Association Sheikh Muhammad Al-Issa at the Presidential Palace in Rome. During the meeting, they discussed a number of topics related to the importance of the effective contribution of religions in promoting global peace and strengthening friendship between peoples. They specially noted that many conflicts throughout human history were found rooted in false religious interpretations. Sheikh Al-Issa thanked Mattarella for his fair position on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially his support for the inevitable option of the two-state solution. He stressed that the religion of Islam called for mutual understanding between nations and peoples, respect for human dignity, and peaceful coexistence. He briefed the Italian president on the salient features of the "Madinah Charter" and the "Makkah Document". The MWL chief praised the Italian Islamic community leaders for their depth of religious and intellectual awareness, saying that this reflects the true image of Islam. He lauded their pride in their national identity, respect for Italy's constitution, and their ideal coexistence within the framework of the unity of Italian society and the concepts of a comprehensive state of citizenship, while respecting religious privacy. On his part, the Italian president appreciated the efforts of the Muslim World League, led by its secretary general, to promote religious and civilizational peace, praising the values of Islam in this regard. He said that extremism, whatever its source, does not represent the civilizational values for which religions call for.
