31 Mar Doha Interfaith Conference Encourages Youth Dialogue
More than 350 participants at the 11th Doha International Conference for Interfaith Dialogue last week urged regional and international policymakers to enshrine freedom of belief in law and in practice.
Discussion at this year’s conference, held March 25th and 26th, focused on the role of youth in enhancing the value of dialogue, with topics including faith perspectives on youth, opportunities and challenges young people face and youth contribution to interfaith dialogue.
Young people are key to the advancement of any nation, said Doha Centre for Interfaith Dialogue chairman Ibrahim al-Nuaimi.
“In line with the recommendations of the conference, the centre will work in the future to hold training sessions for male and female teachers with the aim of moving the dialogue to schools,” al-Nuaimi told Al-Shorfa.
Christian and Muslim youth engaged in a lively debate which sought to strengthen interfaith dialogue and build a society that believes in it, he said, noting that all humans are brothers in humanity and must work together to build the earth.
Participants discussed the challenges young people face in taking a leadership role in dialogue.
They called on the media to cultivate a culture of dialogue, security and peaceful co-existence among nations through youth programmes that build co-operation, amity and peace among the followers of monotheistic religions and other cultures.
‘For the good of all mankind’
It is essential to elevate “the level of dialogue among the youth of the world to enable them to play their role in fostering global balance among the influential forces of the world”, said Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs Mounir al-Tlili.
The world is in the midst of a real crisis of values and education, which makes it incumbent on the world’s religions to find solutions to these problems through dialogue, he added.
The minister urged the three Abrahamic faiths to “set aside their disputes and turn instead to work for the good of all mankind”.
He also criticised young people’s “mimicry” of religious practices which are far-removed from sharia, saying this exacerbates problems and fosters extremism.
“We must co-exist in peace, rather than conflict,” said Hassan Moussa, secretary-general of the Swedish Islamic Endowment for Communication and Dialogue.
“The youth at the present time are grappling with several issues, such as acceptance of others and full peace and social justice, which can only be achieved through dialogue among this segment of society,” he said.
On the last day of the conference, the Doha Centre for Interfaith Dialogue awarded the Doha International Prize for Interfaith Dialogue 2014 to institutions and individuals from Jordan, Britain, the Philippines and Romania for their work in the field.
Jordan’s International Forum for Moderation, Britain’s Three Faiths Forum, Princess Rohaniza Usman of the Philippines and Mihai Valentin Vladimirescu of Romania won the top awards.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.