Glencree Summer School:An embryo in a mother's womb should be protected unless it is life-threatening, the imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland Sheikh Hussein Halawa said yesterday.
"The third article in the protection of offspring, from the Muslim point of view, is that once the soul has been breathed into a body, that soul and body should be protected. Even an embryo in his mother's womb is not allowed to be killed as long as it is not threatening the life of the mother."
He added that the lives of animals should also be protected, according to the Muslim point of view. "It is reported, in a prophetic saying, that a woman was admitted into paradise because she gave water to a dog."
The imam was speaking on the theme "The Islamic approach to peace" at the Glencree Summer School, which began yesterday at the Glencree centre for peace and reconciliation.
Stressing the importance of justice and equality, he said they were solid foundations from a Muslim viewpoint. All people were equal, he added.
"When we say they are equal, we mean they are equal in regard to their rights and responsibilities. Consequently, from my point of view, the problems we see in the East and West are due to the absence of justice and equality.
"I would like to say that I condemn all aspects of trans-aggressions but I would also like to state that the world will enjoy peace only when justice and equality are restored," he said.
Sr Geraldine Smyth OP, senior lecturer at the Irish School of Ecumenics, said there were enormous challenges to the denominational Christian religion and to secular liberalism alike to find alternative ways to violence stereotyping, ghettoisation, exclusion and scapegoating.
The Rev Earl Storey, Church of Ireland director of the Hard Gospel project, said religion was about life, death and eternity.
"As a Christian, I would be prepared to die for my faith, but I would not be prepared to kill for my faith. We also have to admit that there are no religions with clean hands in this."