UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for religion to be a bridge between people, rather than a wedge, at a conference focussing on religious minorities and their rights in Muslim countries.

During the conference entitled "The Rights of Religious Minorities in predominantly Muslim Lands: Legal Framework and A Call To Action", Ki-moon emphasised that "inter-faith dialogue is necessary and urgent", according to the Shanghai Daily.

"Religious leaders have responsibility to help heal differences in their communities. There are no quick remedies, and solutions will have to come from within," he said.

Over three hundred Islamic scholars and government ministers of religion from Muslim-majority nations – including Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Iran – are expected to be attending the forum. Organisers hope to issue a declaration promoting the Charter of Medina, which was issued by the Prophet Muhammad in 622 AD. It ensured the protection of religious minorities, including Christians, which is deeply rooted in traditional Islamic law.

Ki-moon drew the conference's attention to the rich history in the Middle East of tolerance and co-existence, highlighting that the violent extremism present today undermines the social make-up of the region.

He said the UN would continue to support the effort to counter and end cycles of violence and discrimination through initiatives such as the Alliance of Civilizations and the Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

The conference, which is running from the 24-27 January, is hosted by the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies alongside the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco.