BANGKOK, Aug 20 — A Muslim peace initiative, the Wasatiyyah Institute for Peace and Development, has been formally launched in Thailand.
The official opening of the Wasatiyyah Institute for Peace and Development was presided over by Thai Muslim spiritual leader Aziz Phitakkumpon, the Chularatchamontri or Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, at the Sheikhul Islam Office in Bangkok on Wednesday morning.
Isara Santisart, Policy Committee vice chairman of the Wasatiyyah Institute for Peace and Development, said the institute was set up with the goal to provide a counter-balance to Islamic extremism as it is taking place in various parts of the world and to promote moderation and peace among Muslims in Thai society.
Mr Isara said that the Sheikhul Islam Office has pushed inclusion of its ideas in education, both inside and outside the classroom, to encourage Thai Muslims, as a minority of the people in the country, to live with others amid the religious diversity with the real concept and practices of the religion of Islam.
