JEDDAH: Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has said that Christmas Day is a day of love, peace and equality of all people. In a statement released to mark the occasion and the upcoming Gregorian New Year, Ihsanoglu gave his felicitations to Christians across the globe and in the Islamic World, and noted the importance of the occasion for them. He also called upon Muslims across the world to “share in the joy and happiness with their Christian brothers”, while appealing to Christians who live in the Islamic World to refrain from leaving their countries, citing the importance of “peaceful coexistence between all children of the Heavenly Religions”. The OIC secretary general urged Christians and particularly those in the West to exert efforts to achieve a “better and deeper understanding of the teachings of Islam and its followers in order for mutual respect and profound dialogue between all religions, and to avoid any judgments based on the actions of outcast individuals or groups”. Ihsanoglu concluded by expressing his hope that 2011 would be a year of peace, prosperity and security for all the peoples of the world, and reiterated his commitment to “dialogue as the best form of dispelling misunderstanding between the children of Islam and Christianity”.
