The latest Global Newsletter from Religions for Peace International reports peace and humanitarian activities in the conflict zones, along with heart-felt activities imbued with love, by members of Religions for Peace Worldwide. Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Climate Change, efforts to restore peace in many nations: these are the works of members and leaders of Religions for Peace worldwide, covered in this newsletter.
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL
Dear Friends:
This past month has been marked by violent conflicts and the displacement of minority religious populations in the Middle East-North Africa region. Syrians, Iraqis, Palestinians and Israelis in particular come deeply to mind. Our hearts cry out when we see innocent people, including the elderly, women and children killed in violent conflicts. Our hearts cry out when violence is used as a justification for more violence, while the innocent lie dead, wounded or homeless.
Tragically, all too often religion is being misused in these situations. All too often, religion is a “victim” of the cynical efforts designed to demonize the other.
As you watched, worked and prayed this last month, you no doubt had in mind your Religions for Peace (RfP) colleagues present in places of conflict. I can share with you that your colleagues were using their faith as a source of strength to resist the great pressures to demonize people of other faiths. Indeed, your colleagues were struggling to find ways to reach out in solidarity for Peace.
We recall the recent 9th World of Assembly of RfP and its theme of “Welcoming the Other.” In that Assembly, the delegates were able to discern as a profound consensus that their respective religious traditions called them to actively “welcoming the other.” That is our fundamental multi-religious stance. It expresses the fact that diverse religious traditions teach-each one in its own way-that Peace is more that the absence of war; Peace is positive.
Below the painful headlines, you will be pleased to know that your colleagues in RfP around the world continue their work of bridging the divides that so painfully separate human communities. The enclosed Newsletter highlights just a little of our work during the past month.
Also, during the past month, our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrated the end of Ramadan. We congratulate our Islamic brothers and sisters and thank them for their irreplaceable contributions to Peace.
Let each one of us draw strength from her or his faith to renew the commitment to work together for Peace.
Sincerely,
Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General
GLOBAL: RELIGIONS FOR PEACE (RFP) LEADERS JOIN IN CONDEMNING ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
By HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Founder and Chairman, Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies and Co-Founder & Chairman of the Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue, [Moderator Emeritus of RfP]; Mr. Jamal Daniel, Co-founder, Vice President and Trustee, Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue; Chief Rabbi René-Samuel Sirat, Co-Founder & Secretary, Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue, [Honorary President of RfP]; Mr. Michael L. Fitzgerald, Board Member, Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue; His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Board Member, Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue, [Co-President of RfP]; Dr. William Vendley, [Secretary General of RfP] and Dr. Ahmed Al Kubaisi, Founder of Scholars Association, Iraq
In recent days, we have read with horror about Christians being asked to leave the town of Mosul within twenty-four hours. We have also heard about the desecration of Christian holy spaces and their symbols – the bombing of churches and a cross being removed from St. Ephrem’s Cathedral, the seat of the Syriac Orthodox archdiocese in Mosul.
These actions are an appalling blot on the proud tradition of pluralism in a region, which has been home to Chaldeans, Assyrians and other Churches of the East for more than 1,700 years. Indeed the destruction caused by the violence has engulfed all of the diverse populations that make up Iraq – the Turkmens, the Yazidis, the Sunnis and Shias, Kurds and tens upon thousands of Arab families who have been uprooted from the region in fear of their lives. These horrors continue to unfold on a daily basis and follow a brutal period of fighting in Syria. Today, the United Nations estimates that one out of every three Syrians is in need of urgent humanitarian aid. We cannot stand by and watch idly, as the lives of the most vulnerable, our women and our children are destroyed in the name of religion.
We have also viewed with concern the ongoing situation in Gaza and Israel, and leaving aside the horror of that situation for a moment, have been particularly distressed by how the name of religion has been invoked to justify the murder of ordinary people. Statements posted by young people on social media justifying the taking of innocent lives as “commandments from God” are a testament to how the pressure of living under the threat of violence can cause the minds and moral compass of not just the military and seekers of power, but also that of ordinary civilians to atrophy. We should do all that we can to end the violence even as the numbers of casualties rise on a daily basis. Now, more than ever, we should all remember the quote of Malachi 2, verse 10 – “Have we not all one father?”
In these troubling times, when we bear witness to a moral crisis of unparalleled dimensions, we should recall the Islamic concepts of haq el hurriya and haq el karama, the right to freedom and the right to human dignity that are to be enjoyed by people of all faiths. To quote the words from the Quran: “We have honored the children of Adam and carried them on to land and sea.” (Surah (17) al-Isra’: Verse 70).
It would behove us to remember the words of Rabbi Magonet citing the hallel: “To get out of this narrowness, I called on God; God answered me with a broader vision. Give thanks to the eternal who is good, for God’s love is la-olam: for the whole world.”
And we should pay close attention to His Holiness Pope Francis’ remarks on the situation in Mosul, “May the God of peace rouse in
everyone an authentic desire for peace and reconciliation. Violence cannot be overcome with violence. Violence is defeated with peace!”
Religious leaders and their followers must draw strength from the ethical precepts that have been set over the course of our civilizations. When people turn to their religious leaders for advice, they must not receive rigid statements drawn from the misinterpretations of religious beliefs. Rather, they should be able to draw inspiration from the clear ethical standards that have been set over time, the standards that are born out of the timeless concepts of justice, compassion, generosity and imagination.
In this spirit, we appeal to the leaders and brokers of power in Mosul, the Middle East region, and indeed around the world that the holy spaces, both in our sites of worship and in our hearts, should not devolve into venues that separate us from each other. Instead, they should be venues for dialogue and for conversation, so that we may recognize the values of human dignity and solidarity to which we all subscribe. Only by having these shared conversations, we will be able to better understand each other.
Now, more than ever, it is time that we heed the words put forth in the Qur’an: “There shall be no compulsion in religion.” (Surah (2) al-Baqarah: verse 256). If we ignore this call for conciliation, attitudes will continue to harden, and we will witness the people Iraq being torn asunder – within Muslims and between the people of different faiths in the region. We cannot allow this tragedy to unfold in a land that is home to one of the world’s most ancient civilizations. We must repay the debt we owe to Mesopotamia.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN UKRAINE CALL FOR THE LAYING DOWN OF ARMS AND PEACEFUL POLITICAL DIALOGUE
Violence and political discontent that have plagued Ukraine for months have escalated, once again, and now the country is host to a new tragedy.
Kiev Interfaith Forum convened its International Board in Kharkiv, Ukraine on 22 June. Representatives of religious communities in Ukraine and different parts of the world make up the Board.
During the meeting, the participants stressed the need to contribute to restoration of peace in Ukraine. They strongly rejected attempts to use religious and national slogans to foment hate between people, justify aggression and other actions against Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They confirmed that the mission of religious leaders, all people of faith and all people of good will is to help to restore peace in Ukraine.
The participants issued a statement, calling “upon religious leaders Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Pope Francis, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, other religious leaders and followers to pray for Ukraine and by all possible means influence politicians and society in order to stop aggression against Ukraine and bloodshed on her land.”
The statement further called upon “all who violated Ukrainian law and took up arms to lay down their weapons and to start a peaceful political dialogue”. The participants also expressed support for “all humanitarian actions to relieve fate of displaced people, expressed sympathy to relatives of the fallen and are wished soon recovery to the wounded.”
RfP International was represented by Rev. Kyoichi Sugino [Deputy Secretary General of RfP] and European Council of Religious Leaders-RfP [ECRL-RfP] was represented by Imam Ibrahim Mogra; Sr Clare Elizabeth Jardine and General Secretary Mr. Stein Villumstad.
Previously, during their Annual Council meeting the ECRL-RfP issued a statement calling upon all parties to show restraint and find acceptable political solutions to the current crisis. They further call on all external actors, governments or non-governmental bodies, to show wisdom and restrain from actions that contribute to escalation of the conflicts and human sufferings. Read More
SYRIA:RELIGIOUS LEADERS ADVANCE PEACE-BUILDING DURING RAMADAN
The brutality of the Syrian conflict has left local communities deeply injured, traumatized and often isolated, plagued with distrust and suspicion.
RfP continues to bring communities together as peacemakers. The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan and the subsequent Eid el Fitr celebrations provided a unique opportunity for religious and community leaders, children and families from all religious and ethnic backgrounds to come together over shared meals and multi-faith celebrations.
The celebrations took place at RfP Centers of Peace for Children in Syria. The Centers provide physical, educational and psychological support for children, including classes in arts, music, sports, science and public health. Moreover, the Centers teach about the values of peace, truth, honor and love.
The community activities supported by RfP are designed to advance peace and the common good of all Syrians. These public activities engage diverse religious communities in dialogue to help them reject sectarian violence.
INTER-RELIGIOUS COORDINATING COUNCIL OF ISRAEL-RfP VISIT BEREAVED PALESTINIAN FAMILY
On 8 July, the Interreligious Coordinating Council of Israel-RfP joined with approximately 350 people–mostly Jewish citizens of Israel–to pay condolence to the family of Mohammed Khdeir, who was killed by young Jewish extremists, in the tent of mourning in the Palestinian neighborhood of Shuafat, northern Jerusalem.
Rabbi Ron Kronish, [Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel-RfP], commented that, “All of us who were there felt that we were fulfilling an important religious obligation of comforting a bereaved family. We were deeply moved by our welcome by this family, especially in the midst of the escalation of violence in the south of Israel yesterday. Our visit was warmly received by our Palestinian neighbors, who live no more than 5 minutes from where I used to live in the neighborhood known as French Hill, in northeast Jerusalem. They were emotionally moved by our empathetic act of good will.”
He continued, “Most of us remained in the male section of the tent of mourning for the entire visit. However, there were some exceptions to this rule. My daughter, Rabbi Dahlia Kronish and a colleague of hers went briefly into the women’s area, and paid their condolences to the mother of the slain boy, and to other members of their family. It was a very meaningful emotional moment.”
In the meantime, Kronish said, “we will continue to do all that we can to combat hate crimes that are “religiously” motivated in whatever ways we can. And we will be mindful of the verse that is common to Jewish and Muslim sacred texts: “He or she who saves a single life is as if he or she has saved the whole world.”
To read Rabbi Ron Kronish’s full reflection of the visit, click here.
MUSLIM GAZA REFUGEES FIND SHELTER IN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Despite its thick walls dating back to the Crusades, the Church of Saint Porphyrius was still not a very safe haven. …But [Muslim] children from the Shejaia district, where some 72 Palestinians – many of them women and children – were killed during fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants on Sunday, were busy playing football in the yard on Tuesday. Their mothers watched on mattresses and plastic chairs provided by the church, along with food, blankets and toys. “We have opened the church in order to help people. This is the duty of the church and we are doing all we can to help them,” Archbishop Alexios told Reuters as the sounds of small children echoed outside his office at the church
“At the beginning there were 600 people and today they became a thousand – mostly children and women. Some of those children are a week old,” said the head of Gaza’s Greek Orthodox minority, the largest of the Christian communities here. Only about 1,400 Christians – Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants – live among the 1.8 million Muslims, meaning they make up 0.08 percent of the population in the crowded Gaza Strip dominated by Hamas, an Islamist group. …”The mosque nearby and the neighbors of the church are all helping. We are still in need of mattresses, blankets, food and most important is petrol, as we suffer blackouts. If there is no electricity we cannot have water also,” said the archbishop. …Despite the overcrowding and danger, Alexios said there has been some joy in the church in the midst of tragedy. “Yesterday, a woman gave birth to a baby, a new life. Man should be hopeful. There is death but also there is life too,” he said with a smile.
RFP-ETHIOPIA REACHES OVER 300,000 ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND SHARES ITS SUCCESS
Addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic requires courage, commitment and leadership at all levels, including religious leaders who can use the trust and authority they have in their communities to change the course of the pandemic.
The RfP-Ethiopian Interfaith Forum for Development, Dialogue and Action (RfP-EIFDDA) equipped and trained religious leaders in Ethiopia from the national to the grassroots level. Today RfP-EIFDDA is reaching over 300,000 orphans and vulnerable children with holistic support such as psycho-social support, food, shelter and scholastic materials. RfP-EIFDDA is the only faith-based forum in Ethiopia that represents the religious communities in various coordinating mechanism such as the Country Coordinating Mechanism and the Orphan and Vulnerable Child Task Force.
Based on this successful experience in responding to HIV/AIDs, RfP and RfP-EIFDDA were invited to organize a panel and outline the global perspective on Religious Communities’ Contribution to Positioning HIV/AIDS in the Post 2015 Agenda at the Global Village of the 20th International AIDS Conference, held in Melbourne, Australia. RfP representatives included Ms. Deepika Singh [Director of Programs of RfP], Mr. Jihad Jihad Abagerro, [Executive Director of RfP-EIFDDA] and Mr Yonas Dare, [Programme Department Head of RfP-EIFDDA].
While in Australia, Ms. Deepika Singh and Mr. Yonas Dare attended the Executive Committee Meeting of RfP Australia. Chaired by Dr. Desmond Cahill, [Secretary General of RfP Australia], the meeting focused on the work of RfP Australia as well as that of RfP International and RfP EIFDDA. Centered in Melbourne, RfP Australia has associate branches in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, Hobart and Brisbane.
UGANDA: AFRICAN FAITH LEADERS RESOLVE TO PARTICIPATE IN POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
Today, over 1 billion of the human family are trapped in extreme structural poverty that mocks, humiliates and thwarts those who would struggle to escape it. In partial response, the world’s governments agreed on the Millennium Development Goals and to-hopefully more robustly-develop a post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda.
From 30 June to 2 July, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda-RfP convened over 300 religious leaders and delegates from across Africa for the African Faith Leaders’ Summit on Sustainable Development Goals and the Post 2015 Development Agenda. “The Summit provided an opportunity for faith communities to contribute to the formulation of the new development agenda and how they could contribute to its implementations,” stated Mr. Joshua Kitakule, [Secretary General of the Inter-religious Council of Uganda-RfP](IRCU-RfP).
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta; Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni; Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union were present at the Summit.
Also present were RfP representatives, including: H.E. Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, Archbishop of Kampala and All Uganda [Chairman of the IRCU-RfP]; Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Archbishop of Kampala [Member of the IRCU-RfP]; Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti Uganda Muslim Supreme Council [Member of the IRCU-RfP and Co-President of RfP]; El Hadji Mansor Sy, Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Republic of Senegal [Co-President of RfP]; Dr. Francis Kuria [Secretary General of the African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP]and Dr. William Vendley [Secretary General of RfP.]
Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga stated, “I encourage you, delegates, to provide in your churches and mosques platforms for educating the masses on their responsibility to work toward these development goals.”
Dr. William Vendley noted, “The challenges associated with sustainable development are profoundly moral in character. Morality, in turn, is directly linked to capacity. Today we have the capacity to welcome virtually every person as an agent of development.”
The summit concluded with a joint statement of African faith leaders on recommendations for a Post-2015 Development Agenda. To read the full statement, click here. To read the final position paper from the summit, click here.
MYANMAR: RFP-MYANMAR CONDEMNS VIOLENT CLASHES IN MANDALAY
For the past two years, Myanmar has been plagued with violent conflict, often linked to religious and ethnic differences. Violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar has become a regular occurrence under the newly democratic government since rioting between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakine State broke out in June 2012. Over 250 people have been killed and approximately 150,000 people have been displaced and are now homeless. All the while, tensions between Buddhists and Muslims continue to rise.
On 1-2 July, rioting began again as Buddhist gangs shouting anti-Muslim slogans attacked Muslim businesse
s and houses of worship in retaliation for reports of a Buddhist woman being raped by two Muslim men. Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar, erupted in violent clashes, resulting in two deaths, more than a dozen injured, and five desecrated or destroyed mosques.
RfP-Myanmar Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and Hindu leaders publicly stood before the nation to condemn the violence that erupted in Mandalay and reject the claim that religious differences are a legitimate source for violence. They stated, “The public and people of all faiths need to be aware of the fact that these violent acts are deliberately created to stimulate political unrest in the forthcoming next year election.”
RfP-Myanmar also noted, “In view of advancing inter-communal harmony and social cohesion, members of all religions and ethnic races should come together and condemn these violent acts. RfP-Myanmar encourages and calls for living in peace and harmony in order to avoid undesirable problems.”
To read the full statement, click here
NEW YORK: RfP AND WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES CO-HOSTING INTERFAITH SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
RfP is committed to advancing the cause of peace by protecting the earth. Indeed, it is a central aspect of our global agenda. All faith traditions call on us to care for the earth, which shelters and sustains us
Climate change is among the most serious challenges facing our human family. As religious believers-and as advocates for peace-we must take common action to reduce the challenges that climate change poses.
To highlight specific contributions that faith communities bring to the international climate debate, RfP and World Council of Churches will co-host an Interfaith Summit on Climate Change in New York, 21-22 September.
The Summit will bring together senior religious leaders to advance a multi-religious consensus on the moral dimensions of the climate change challenge and to map out needed forms of multi-religious collaboration.
The Interfaith Summit gives religious leaders an opportunity to convey faith communities’ concerns and proposals to the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Summit on 23 September. The Interfaith Summit will adopt a statement on the threat of climate change and on the importance of fair and ambitious climate negotiations.
Moreover, the Interfaith Summit provides an opportunity for the RfP network to mobilize to launch movement-wide action programs to address climate change, harnessing religious communities of every historic faith tradition around the world.
To learn more and receive updates about the Interfaith Summit on Climate Change, click here.
PERU: INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF PERU ORGANIZES VISIT FROM THE FIRST LADY OF PERU
Every historic faith tradition calls its followers to aid those most vulnerable among us. Whether it is children, the elderly, the sick or the injured, religious communities have a vital role to play in protecting the vulnerable.
On 9 July, the First Lady of Peru, Ms. Nadine Heredia, met with the Executive Committee of Inter-Religious Council of Peru-RfP (IRC Peru-RfP) to discuss ways in which religious communities of Peru could advance national development through social inclusion and the protection of vulnerable populations in Peru.
First Lady Heredia also participated in a tour of social services organizations, coordinated by the IRC Peru-RfP. Together they visited: Casa Gracia, which helps young women recover from eating and emotional disorders; Niñta Maria Hostel, which assists pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers who have been victims of sexual violence; and the Bikur Cholim Center, which provides senior care services for the elderly of the Jewish community.
Ms. Heredia expressed gratitude for the work of IRC Peru-RfP and religious communities across the country. “Working together in a space of dialogue despite differences is a challenge, but it is possible and it is what the country needs,” she said. Ms. Heredia added that common action by faith communities: “leaves a message and a lesson that should be learned in the political arena when we seek a decent life for all, and the development and progress of Peruvian society.
To view the TV Peru’s coverage of the visit, click here.
UGANDA: ADVANCING FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION
After a prolonged period of civil war, Uganda is making strides towards stability and reconciliation. The conflict between the government of Uganda and The Lord’s Resistance Army has caused immense suffering throughout the country. Localized violence continues to plague Northern Uganda and the reintegration of child soldiers into society is filled with immense challenges, as child soldiers continue to face high levels of stigmatization within their communities.
To assist in the reconciliation process, the Fundación Para La Reconcilacíon, with support from Arigatou International, headed by Rev. Keishi Miyamoto [International Trustee of RfP]and the Goldin Institute, conducted an 8-day training to promote peace and stability in Northern Uganda.
Coordinated by the Interreligious Council of Uganda-RfP and the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, the training took place at the Alokolum National Major Seminary in Gulu, Uganda between 6 and 13 June and focused on themes of justice, punishment, and various forms of forgiveness and reconciliation. The fifteen participants from diverse religious communities included school officials, NGO’s, pastors, youth networks as well as former child soldiers, selected from various districts throughout Northern Uganda. In between training sessions, participants were able to visit sites where child soldiers were being reintegrated into society.
The training provided space for participants to openly discuss tensions and commit to take concrete steps to address them. The various agreements made by participants will be enacted during a four-month period.
SIERRA LEONE NEWS: 3 DAYS FASTING DECLARED…AS INTER-RELIGIOUS LEADERS GANG AGAINST EBOLA
15 July, 2014
Source: Awareness Times Sierra Leone – Religious Leaders in Sierra Leone have joined forces in support the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and other International Partners in the campaign against the spread of Ebola Virus in, which has claimed several lives in few months since it was discovered to be in the country.
A press release issued las
t Friday by the Inter-religious Council of Sierra Leone-RfP made a joint statement about the spread of the Ebola virus, which reads thus “The outbreak of the Ebola virus in our nation and its devastating consequences is now well known throughout the country. Never in our history as a nation have we been confronted with such a devastating disease. The challenge it poses to life and the economy of our nation are enormous. Ebola is no respecter of persons or religions, nor does it give warning signs. When it comes, it does not discriminate neither give warning signs.
As we make this statement, we learned that the disease is not only in Kailahun District now. It has spread to places like Kenema, Bo, Pujehun, Kambia and Koinadugu Districts.
However, we are too helpless in the face of challenges presented by this deadly virus. There are constructive actions each of us can take. Therefore as religious leaders, we have decided to make this statement for the whole nation.
The statement declares three days of fasting and prayers within the month of July. It urges all religious leaders to preach sermons of hope and God’s presence in peoples’ lives, further asking all religious leaders to teach their congregation basic prevention strategies as avoiding shaking of hands, unnecessary public gatherings, touching corpse of Ebola victims among others. Read More
The Painful Dilemma of Dialogue with Boko Haram
4 June, 2014
Source: AfricanHadithi.com
The world renowned Catholic prelate, His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, once defined dialogue as “You talk I listen; I talk and you listen.” He certainly knew what he was talking about, because he was for many years the President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, the agency of the Holy See for dialogue with people of other faiths.
There has been much talk about dialogue not only in the past few weeks with the abduction of over 250 school girls by Boko Haram, but since more than three years ago. Unfortunately, there has been quite a lot of ambiguity and confusion in what we mean by dialogue, leading to inconsistency in the practical steps that have been taken. It is no wonder that little or no progress has been made in this line. It seems to me that the major short coming is that there is too much talking and not enough listening, on all sides of the discussion.
Dialogue means talking and listening across lines of differences, seeking common grounds on which to build some measure of agreement. It does not ignore nor deny differences, but rather seeks to honestly identify the point of difference and how to live with such differences in order to avoid conflict, especially violent conflict.
We have been following with grave concern the deep dilemma of government as regards whether and to what extent it can engage the Boko Haram in dialogue over the release of the abducted girls. But would like to say that what looks now to be confusion and contradiction is in the nature of dialogue. On the one hand, the government is right to reject the demand of Boko Haram to swap the girls for their imprisoned comrades. There is no parallel between innocent schoolgirls and terrorists detained for violent and heinous crimes. Besides, no government can ignore the unspeakable consequence of setting such a precedent.
It is here that we might evoke the wisdom of Cardinal Arinze’s definition of dialogue. Boko Haram has spoken and government has listened. The government has spoken. Let us hope that Boko Haram is listening. In this game of haggling, it is possible that the last word has not yet been said by either party. Are there no other less obnoxious demands that Boko Haram can make? They may well be ruthless and wicked, but they are certainly not foolish. Are there no other options which government can offer? The dialogue has started. I would like to hope that neither side has considered the dialogue closed.
God bless Nigeria – and bring back our daughters. Read More
TURKISH RELIGIOUS HEAD CONDEMNS SECTARIAN CLASHES
ISTANBUL – Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs Head Mehmet Gomez, [Co-President of RfP] on Monday condemned sectarian clashes in the region and said that Turkey should never lose its role as arbitrator over regional issues. “There are certain issues that Turkey should be careful about. First, we [Turkey] should never lose our arbitrator stance. Ahl al-Sunnah tradition constitutes the main population, but never has the luxury to be biased in Sunni-Shiite dilemma. Turkey should always take the role of arbitrator since the only country that people [Muslim people] pin their hopes on is Turkey.”
Addressing journalists and media representatives at an Iftar event, Görmez on Monday touched on regional issues and ongoing sectarian clashes.
While stressing that these issues should not be interpreted from the perspective of sectarianism alone, he said there are many other political, social, economic and philosophical reasons behind the regional tension. Görmez, who said Turkey is a significant country in the region, stated that Turkey’s biggest asset is that it has already solved many problems related to religious services and religious education, but other Muslim countries that have been dealing with violence have not managed to solve such issues.
Görmez said that violence which has been interpreted as “sectarian clashes” by the world over the last 10 years saw Muslims become more divided. “The world has some problems with reading these issues [violence in the region]. The world has some problems with understanding how a Muslim can not kill another Muslim in the holy month of Ramadan saying Allahu akbar. It is impossible for our [Turkish] children and youth to understand this issue.” Görmez added that it would be wrong to assume that sectarianism is primarily behind violence across the region but rather is a result of occupation, colonialism and tyrannical regimes which have cast a shadow over the region.
Amid sectarian clashes and bloodshed in the region, the Turkish Directorate of Regional Affairs is seeking to host a conference for Islamic scholars in Istanbul on Thursday to stand against extremism and violence. Titled, “World Islamic Scholars Peace, Moderation and Commonsense Initiative,” the conference will be attended by Islamic scholars from 32 different countries, including Palestine, Japan, Russia and Somalia. Read more
