''Terrorism cannot be jihad''

The Turkish Directorate of Regional Affairs has heard calls from a major meeting of Islamic scholars in Istanbul to stand against extremism and violence dominating the Middle East.

Speaking alongside Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's President of Religious Affairs, Mehmet Gormez, said there was a need for getting used to living in a world with multiple religions.

Gormez stated that the Islamic world has to end bloodshed and chaos in the region, especially during the holy month of Ramadan and added that just condemning the clashes in Iraq and Syria was not enough.

"The act of creating chaos, inciting anarchy, mass killings, bombing mosques or massacres are described as terrorism. Terrorism cannot be accepted as jihad. The real Islamic jihad never accepts the act of terrorism as a method," said Gormez.

Attempts to base conflicts in the Middle East on Islamic sects have reached serious dimensions that are threatening not only Iraq and Syria but the whole Islamic world, he said.

Gormez called on representatives of religious institutions and establishments to come up with initiatives to eliminate polarization based on sectarianism. The Presidency of Turkish Religious Affairs said it would be happy to lead such an effort to bring together Sunni and Shiite scholars throughout the world.

The Istanbul conference of 'World Islamic Scholars Peace, Moderation and Commonsense Initiative' will host Islamic figures from 32 different countries between July 17 and 19.