Rejecting Violent Religious Extremism and Advancing Shared Well-being

Rejecting Violent Religious Extremism and Advancing Shared Well-being

The Religions for Peace (RfP) International Executive Committee in partnership with the Forum for Building Peace in Muslim Societies (Forum) has collaborated to produce a powerful statement on “Rejecting Violent Religious Extremism and Advancing Shared Well-being.

The Religions for Peace (RfP) International Executive Committee in partnership with the Forum for Building Peace in Muslim Societies (Forum) has collaborated to produce a powerful statement on “Rejecting Violent Religious Extremism and Advancing Shared Well-being.” You will find the Statement attached and you can also access it by clicking (here for English) or (here for Arabic).

This Statement sets forth a deep multi-religious consensus for joint action to reject violent religious extremism as part of our commitment to build Peace.

At the request of both organizations, I am writing you now to respectfully urge that you forward this email with its attached documents as widely as possible among the members of the RfP Network. Kindly also forward it to all other relevant networks, organizations and people. The Forum is also distributing the statement widely. And, it is being forwarded to the UN Security Council and to all UN member States.

In addition to the Statement, we have adopted a robust Action Plan that will involve the global RfP family, the Forum, many religious communities and men and women of good will. Your taking the time to widely distribute the Statement will be an important first step in mobilizing for action.

You will be pleased to know that our Action Plan includes partnership with the United Nations and that already the United Arab Emirates has given us truly wonderful hospitality and support. We believe that many governments will be open to principled collaboration with us.

It is a joy to share that His Eminence Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, a Co-Moderator of RfP, hosted the meeting in his capacity as the President of the Forum. His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Co-Moderator of RfP, worked in partnership with Shaykh Bin Bayyah to moderate our important meeting. You will find the participant list attached and you also access it by clicking here.

Our efforts have been widely covered in the press, particularly in the Middle East. You will find examples enclosed and you can also access them by clicking here.

Yours in Peace,

New Dr. Vendley Signature

Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General
Religions for Peace International

RELIGIONS FOR PEACE—the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition—advances common action among the world’s religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth. The global Religions for Peace network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than eighty national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Interfaith Youth Network.

777 United Nations Plaza | New York, NY 10017 USA | Tel: +1 212-687-2163 | Fax: +1 212-983-0098 | www.religionsforpeace.org