Tuesday, December 21 2004 22:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Lamenting that a "negative Islamic stereotype" persisted in the world in the post September 11 scenario, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today (Dec 21, 2004) called for encouraging reform and renewal in Islamic thought in tune with the times.

"Islam and Muslims worldwide continue to be portrayed as violent, extremist and intolerant. The post-September 11 world has perpetuated a negative Islamic stereotype, well documented and now clear for all to see," the visiting dignitary said after being conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Central University Jamia Milia Islamia.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed was present during the special convocation ceremony.

Badawi, who is also the Chairperson of the Organisation of Islamic Countries said, "The current perceptions of Islamic countries continues to be fed by hidden assumptions and distortions of fact.

"To their credit, some Western leaders have stressed that 'this is not a war against Islam', but this appears trivial when popular sentiment is driven by a sensationalist Western media that focuses almost exclusively on extremist discourse," he added.

The Malaysian Prime Minister acknowledged that some Muslim countries were "synonymous with poverty and illiteracy, some stand out because of oppression and poverty" and corruption was a major problem in the Muslim world.

The remedy, according to him, was to concentrate on some key areas such as good governance and reform in Islamic thought.