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Maulana Wahiduddin Khan receiving the Demiurgus award
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By
IOL South Asia Correspondent
NEW
DELHI, October 24 (IslamOnline) – India’s noted Islamic scholar
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan has been awarded the Demiurgus Peace
International Award by the Nuclear Disarmament Forum AG, the Hindustan
Times website reported Wednesday, October 23.
The
award, under the patronage of the former Soviet President Mikhail
Gorbachev has been awarded to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan to acknowledge
his outstanding achievements in strengthening peace among nations.
Maulana
Khan is president of the Islamic Center, New Delhi which is devoted to
spreading Islam as a peace-loving religion.
Maulana
Khan has been awarded the peace prize for his efforts to develop a
complete ideology of peace and present Islamic teachings in the style
and language of the present day.
The
award was presented by Dr. Alexander Bessmertnykh, chairman of the
World Council of Former Foreign Ministers (WCFFM), at an impressive
ceremony at Zug, Switzerland, recently.
Besides
Maulana Khan, other distinguished individuals who received the award
include Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Africa’s Nobel Peace
Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, American media entrepreneur Ted
Turner, Princess Elizabeth Karadjiievic of Yugoslavia and Professor
Michael Windy.
“Peace
is the only religion of both mankind and the universe. And the
disruption of peace under any situation whatsoever, cannot be
justified. In fact, terrorist activities being carried out in the name
of Islam, are completely un-Islamic,” said Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
whose efforts to make people think positive in order to avoid
conflict, were acknowledged by World Council of Former Foreign
Ministers and the Forum.
The
peace award ceremony which was presided over by Mikhail Gorbachev,
former Russian President, began with remembrance of September 11.
“Demiurgus
Peace International award is an attempt to encourage the individual
and organizational efforts which support the ideology of peace and
communal harmony. We need to encourage people to think positive, avoid
confrontation and live in harmony,” said Andrey Bykov, CEO of the
Nuclear Disarmament Forum, prayed Saint Nicolas, according to the
Hindustan Times report.
"Frictions
and misguidance often lead to conflict between individuals and
communities.
“The
biggest threat of terrorism today, is the result of the wrong
interpretation of religious text. We need a counter ideology to deal
with the problem.
“I
believe, appreciation of individual efforts of various people, will
definitely encourage them work hard and make people think positive.
Demiurgus Peace International Award is the right step in this
regard,” said Mikhail Gorbachev.
Behind
the Demiurgus Peace International Award, stands the worldwide
Association of Former Foreign Ministers and the Zug group Nuclear
Disarmament Forum which develops technology for the neutralization of
weapon-grade plutonium and uranium.
The
Board president of NDF is the former Russian chess world master
Anatoly Karpov.
