Faisal before the conference: Saudi Arabia views the Dakar summit as a significant station as it comes in the aftermath of the adoption of the leaders of the Islamic nation at their extraordinary summit in Makkah of the ten-year work program, which aims at dealing with the challenges facing the Islamic nation upon a strategic vision that puts plans for its future and copes with the international changes and developments. It is hoped and expected that the current meeting reviews the plans contained in the ten-year program based on what has been accomplished and what remains to be completed. Accordingly, the Government of Saudi Arabia has set up a national committee for the implementation, follow-up and coordination of programs with the Islamic world in the framework of joint work. In spite of the relatively short pace of time to adopt the ten-year program of work, we are beginning to see some fruits of its application in enhancing the role of Islamic Fiqh (Jurisprudence) Complex in order to make it a reference for legislation and Fatwa (legal opinion) and to put an end to the chaotic situation prevailing in the area in the field of Ifta (deliverance of advisory or legal opinion) and the development of the advisory functions of the complex to include the promotion of dialogue between Islamic sects and gain respect of others and express the moderation and tolerance of Islam. The recent period has witnessed the launch of serious efforts towards the development of our Charter to enable it to accommodate changes and meet the requirements of the current stage set forth in the ten-year Working Program. Though those steps are important and signal serious orientation towards upgrading the quality of joint Islamic action, we still have a lot of efforts and endeavors to do by each State at the domestic level and at the collective level to work with determination and seriousness to implement all aspects of the program in the political, economic, cultural fields and others. The rational approach and style of moderation and a spirit of tolerance and openness towards other parties must constitute an instrument we use as shield in the face of current challenges and our destiny will remain as it is if we did not change our way of dealing with it and the international community can not deal with us in the required seriousness unless they got assured about our credibility and solidarity in defending these issues and our commitment to meet the requirements of our quest to restore our usurped rights. In the context of our review of the principles contained in the ten-year program, we have to note that the call for moderation, tolerance and openness towards other cultures and civilizations is not intended to ignore abuses directed against Islam and Muslims and disregard the waves of hatred and antagonism originated by the forces of extremism and blind fanaticism prevalent in some Western circles, which was expressed recently by various means of audio-visual media. Our call for tolerance among civilizations and cultures can be achieved only through the exchange of respect among themselves to ensure parity of dialogue. In this regard, we call upon the international community and all its civil and official institutions, and its media to respect Islam in its capacity as a divine religion and the most widespread. Though the international charters have guaranteed the human right of freedom of expression, they did not pardon him from his responsibilities and obligations in return for enjoying this right, according to the United Nations Charter and international human rights laws which urged for encouraging dialogue, understanding and cooperation among religions and cultures in defense of peace and prevention of intolerance, discrimination and instigation for hatred of individuals of any of the sects or followers of a religion or a faith, as urged by the charters and media to create an environment conducive to better understanding among all faiths, cultures and peoples and therefore it is impossible in any way to accept that the freedom opinion could go too far to the extent that it infringes the rights and freedoms of religious beliefs of individuals. --More
