AJC Brings Senior Indian Muslim Leader to Israel
February 20, 2008 - Jerusalem - Hazrat Maulana Jameel Ilyassi, president of the All India Council of Mosques and Imams, which includes more than half a million Indian Imams, is being hosted in Jerusalem by the American Jewish Committee. Maulana Ilyasi has declared his desire to be a bridge of reconciliation between Israel and the Muslim world.
"I am coming with the message of peace and goodwill from Indian Muslims who believe in the Indian tradition of resolving issues through dialogue and peaceful means," Maulana Ilyasi said.
Maulana Ilyasi will meet with Israel's President Shimon Peres, the Chief Rabbis of Israel, leading Palestinian Sheikhs and Israeli Muslim leaders. He will be accompanied by Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's international director of Interreligious Affairs, and Priya Tandon, AJC's representative in India.
"This visit is of great strategic importance for Israel and the Jewish people and we hope it promotes our outreach to the wider Muslim world as well," said Rabbi Rosen.
"Hazrat Maulana Ilyasi has a direct influence on a wide cross section of the Indian Muslim population, which is larger than that of all the Arab countries put together. He is also an internationally respected religious leader and thus the potential impact here is inestimable."
AJC organized last summer an unprecedented first visit to Israel of a top leadership delegation of the All India Council of Mosques and Imams. While Maulana Ilyasi was unable to join in person on that occasion, he expressed his public backing and support for it describing the visit as historical, opening up doors for future engagement.
On his arrival in Israel the Maulana expressed his conviction that after visiting the Holy Land in person, he will be able to more effectively advance the goal of reconciliation and peace.