Nostra Aetate - In Our Time

43 NOSTRA AETATE AND THE RELIGIONS OF ABRAHAM interpretation of Islamic principles that deal with con- temporary human challenges. This is not to underestimate the many courageous attempts that Muslims have taken so far. For instance: v The Al-Azhar four documents about human liberty and national state v The Makah’s principles against extremism and terror v The Beirut Declaration on religious freedom v The Marrakesh declaration on the rights of non- Muslim minorities in Islam. These are initiatives that I have been part of, and directly involved in as a KAICIID Board Member. The question is how to bring together all of these scattered initiatives to form a snowball and push it down the hill. The war against the kind of extremism and terrorism that are committed in the name of Islam is an Islamic war because it is an Islamic responsibility in the first place. There are many soldiers who stand up coura- geously against the imposition of odd erroneous ideas, and misinterpretations of Islamic doctrine. They know that it is a long and costly war that cannot be won by military means alone. But at the same time, some Chris- tians are also waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Some Muslims are waiting for the re-emergence of Al-Mehdi. Others are dreaming of a “caliphate” to be like a “city on the hill”. I am more humble – I am looking for a Muslim Angelo Roncalli. Dr. Sammak with the ex-Secretary General of the OIC in Jeddah, Dr. Ikmaleddine Oglow