Kuala Lumpur Summit kicks off in Malaysian capital

KUALA LUMPUR

The Kuala Lumpur Summit began Wednesday in the Malaysian capital to deliberate upon issues faced by the Muslim world.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the summit’s aim is to ensure the development of Muslim world.

“We hope that at the end of this summit there will be initiatives that will accelerate greater things,” he said at the opening ceremony. “We must find ways to discuss our shortcomings and the fact that we depend on non-Muslims to protect ourselves against the enemies of Islam.”

He also underscored that the Muslim world must cope with Islamophobia.

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, besides the host Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will deliver addresses at the summit.

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Acting Chair Numan Kurtulmus, former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, Tunisia’s Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi are also expected to address the summit.

Hundreds of government officials, businessmen, representatives of civil societies and experts from different sectors across the Muslim world are participating in the summit.

Specific issues will be discussed under various ambits, such as justice and freedom; peace, security and defense; culture and identity; integrity and good governance.

Regional and ethnic issues that closely concern the Islamic world such as Palestine, Syria, Rakhine, Kashmir and East Turkestan will also be a focus of the summit.

*Writing by Burak Dag