Armored with their professional tools, more than 300 media representatives from all over the Muslim world are seen cruising the conference halls of the International Islamic Conference for Dialogue looking for interviews and stories. “This is the first time Muslims are gathering in such big numbers to discuss crucial issues. It is an important event for Muslims across the globe,” Syed Irfan Ashraf from Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, said. “We have to be constantly ready for reports. We cannot go an inch without realizing what is going on around us,” he said. Ashraf said there was a need to focus on political and social issues besides issues of religion. The focus should be in a wider perspective. We need to discuss issues of non-Muslim communities since these can strongly influence us,” he said. He expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for taking the initiative and calling for the dialogue at the heart of Islam, Makkah. “The initiative, he said, clearly mirrors Saudi Arabia's efforts in serving Islam and Muslims everywhere.” Abdul Hakeem Qammaz of Algeria's Al-Bilad newspaper expects the conference to change the face of the Muslim World in international arena. “I'm happy to see this massive gathering of Muslim scholars and intellectuals discussing one of the most important Islamic issues nowadays,” he told Saudi Gazette. Qammaz was optimistic on the success of the meeting. “I am quite sure that these scholars will take the Islamic World to safer destinations away from conflicts and disputes. Also they would be able to bridge the gaps between some Muslim countries,” he added. Qammaz pointed out that the participation of scholars from countries where Muslims are in minority, will help them to feel they are part of the larger Islamic nation. “These minorities are facing many obstacles. Outcomes of this dialogue are expected to help them improve and get better rights,” he added. Others hoped that the conference would bring out positive results that reflect the high capabilities of Muslims in understanding the others. “This gathering reflects the civility of the Islamic dialogue,” Abdul Ilah Mozahim from the Moroccan TV told Saudi Gazette. Some news agencies have prepared for the conference a long time ago. The Sudanese media is an example. “We have been preparing for a month for this conference,” Esam Yousof, a media representative said. He added that the world should see this conference in its best possible presentation and that they have worked hard for that. The organizers have put two media centers at the service of the pressmen and reporters of satellite TV channels. __
