Prof. Akhtar-ul-Wasay, Commissioner for minorities, Govt. of India and former head of the department of Islamic Studies and former Director Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, was invited in an International Conference held in Rome (Italy) a propos Christian-Muslim relations. The conference was held to mark 50th year of transferring The Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies from Tunis (North Africa) to Rome. The international conference was represented by all continents right from America to Australia, while Prof. Akhtarul Wasay alone represented the entire South Asia. The participants of the conference unanimously stressed on mutual respect of each others religion.
Addressing the conference Prof. Akhtarul Wasay said that Islam believed in inclusion and as far as freedom of expression was concerned, it should not be used to offend or insult anyone. He further said that Muslims were supporters of neither terrorists nor the publishers of blasphemous cartoons.
Prof. Akhtarul Wasay met over 100 delegates of Catholic Christians in the International Conference including the Bishop of Rome, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and presented a shawl to him. Prof. Wasay also thanked Pope for his remarks in favour of Islam and Muslims after France incident. Prof. Akhtar-ul-Wasay told to Pope that not just Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) but Muslims could also not tolerate blasphemy against any Prophet or religious leader including Prophet Musa (pbuh) and Prophet Isa (pbuh).