Gary Fitleberg, November 27, 2003

Muslims, Christians and Jews sharing a Ramadan fast is welcome news!!!

Turkey's top Islamic cleric said that religion can never be used to legitimize terrorism and urged religions to work together for peace.

Ali Bardakoglu was speaking at a meal to break the dawn-to-dusk fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

The meal, intended to promote dialogue among religions, was also attended by leaders of the country's Jewish and Christian minorities. "Every religion claims it is the only true religion. This is a very natural, inevitable and rational supposition," Bardakoglu said. "However, this supposition can never legitimize the use of religions for fighting, as a means for violence and terror, nor can it be the source of tensions."

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Mesrob II, the Armenian patriarch of Istanbul, and Isak Haleva, Turkey's chief rabbi, were among participants in the meal.

"The purpose of religions is the happiness of people in this world," Bardakoglu said. "As religious leaders, we have to guide and direct our believers ... to work for world peace and to stop blood, violence and fighting."

Turkey is an overwhelmingly Muslim country which is governed by staunchly secular laws. Its minority Jewish and Christian communities are concentrated mainly in Istanbul.

The religions need to focus on the common bond that exists between then rather than focus on differences. Muslims celebrate the fast of Ramadan while Jews fast on Yom Kippur.

The faithful followers of ONE G-D must come to the realization that they share together belief in the same supreme being and that their parent does not want the siblings to fight.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2003 Gary Fitleberg