WASHINGTON, Aug 14: The use of terror has brought upheaval to the world and voices of moderation are in danger of being drowned out by the harsh cries of extremism, says Ambassador Sherry Rehman.

The Pakistani envoy to the US, who held an interfaith iftar at the embassy, urged people of all faiths, particularly Muslims, to ensure that “voices of moderation rise above the seekers of hate”.

She said: “Extremism in any form is against the spirit of peace and justice, and is abhorred by all faiths. Violence is not an ideology any religion espouses.”

The Pakistanis, she said, recognised the urgent need to protect their religious minorities and to re-commit themselves to the vision of Quaid-i-Azam who had stressed that “all citizens of Pakistan should be free to go to their temples, mosques, churches and places of worship”.

Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Muslim religious leaders attended the interfaith iftar, stressing the need for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and better understanding among the followers of major world religions.

Rev William Aiken, Rev Dr Carol Flett, Nepalese Ambassador to the United States Shankar Prasad Sharma, Rev William Sachs, Dr Rajwant Singh, Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Dr Mohamed Elsanousi and Imam Majid addressed the gathering.

Senior diplomats from various missions, former US ambassadors Wendy Chamberlin, Howard and Teresita Schaffer, John McDonald and Emre Celik, President of the Rumi Forum, and representatives of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and human rights organisations also attended the event.