ZURICH, Oct 17 (KUNA) -- Inauguration of the Kuwait-funded al-Salam (Peace) Mosque comes in support of moderate Islam throughout the world , Kuwaiti Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Adel Al-Falah said.
Supporting the building of the mosque comes in light of the ministry's plan and in line with instructions of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah that aim to turn Kuwait into an international moderation center, Al-Falah said in a speech on the occasion last night (Saturday).
The Islamic nation should be steered back to moderation and continue on giving, Al-Falah said, adding that justice and goodness are of Islam's social pillars.
"Muslims in the West must break free from fear on their identity and positively blend in society and present a bright image of moderate Islam, regardless of nationality," he noted.
Al-Falah, in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), underlined significance of the Kuwait-established moderation center in Manchester, England. The center will embark, within the next few weeks, with training courses for Imams.
The Kuwaiti official said the Imams training came upon both official and public requests.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti scholar Mohammad Al-Awadhi underlined importance of institutional work in the West in order to preserve one's religious identity.
He told KUNA that mosques in Western countries renew religious belonging of Muslims.
"Dialogue and persuasion to be practiced with moderate European groups are needed in order for Muslims in the West to politically and legally 'maneuver', " Al-Awadhi noted.
On his part, Imam of al-Salam Mosque Suleiman Abdulqader told KUNA that the mosque is seen as a beckon of moderation and a bridge that would allow the Swiss society to communicate with its Muslim community.
"The mosque has set a number of social awareness programs to address violence, drug addiction and high divorce rates among other issues," Abdulqader noted.
The mosque groups two schools; one for teaching Arabic and one for teaching the Holy Quran. - Kuna