"ISLAM, SHARI‛A AND DEMOCRATIC TRANSFORMATION IN THE ARAB WORLD"

May 22, 2012 -  15.00

Venue: Palazzo Caetani, Via Michelangelo Caetani 32, Rome

Speaker: 

Prof. Abdullahi  An-Na‛im

Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law - Emory University (USA) 

Discussants: 

Prof. Gokhan Bacik        

Head - Center for Strategic Middle Eastern Studies, Zirve University (Turkey)

H.E. Lamia Mekhemar

Ambassador Republic of Egypt to the Holy See

The ongoing events in the Arab World may be an opportunity for Islam to bring about political, economic and social transformations in countries such as, for example, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. The Conference will be an occasion to discuss the role of external and native actors in the advancement of democracy, human rights and religious freedom in countries affected by the Arab Spring.

The conference has been organized by the Foundation IFIIE with the contribution of Istituto Tevere - Centro Pro Dialogo.

The present world economic crisis, sparked more by a weakened ethical sense than by a failure of the infrastructures, calls for a renewed reflection on the ethics of finance and business. In this context, religions can play a great role in bringing to mind the universal values of fraternity and cooperation underlying an equitable and just market-economy. The Conference is meant to offer to the diplomatic corps, members of the finance world and executives an opportunity of reflection on the common principles of financial ethics shared by religions and cultures. Speakers:

Prof. Maurizio Comoli -Vice President del Banco Popolare -Italia

Prof. Dr. Hatem El Karanshawy - Dean  Faculty of Islamic Studies-Qatar Foundation-Qatar

Prof. Ettore Gotti Tedeschi - President of Institute for Religious Works( IOR )Vatican

Prof. Martin Schlag - Director of Markets, Culture,Ethics Program, PUSC- Rome

Organizer of the Conference is the IFIIE Foundation whose goal is to educate leaders to a better understanding of other religious traditions and cultures through a study and discovery of both spiritual differences as well as shared values. In collaboration with the "Markets, Culture and Ethics Project" of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

                                          We are grateful for the support of 

             BANCO POPOLARE Guppo Bancario                      AVIVA Assicurazioni

    At the opening session, the Minister of Justice , HE Mr. Hassan Bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, welcomed the participants and highlighted the need to follow up this year Conference with concrete resolutions. The conference addressed five major themes:

• The Emergence of Communication Technology, History and Development
• The benefits of using social media in interfaith dialogue
• Reflection on the use of the social media in the communities
• The pros and cons of the social communication in serving interfaith dialogue issues
• Developing religious framework and ethical regulations to protect societies from misuse of social networking tools

During the conference, parallel workshops have introduced participants to different social media such as: twitter, facebook and wordpress. The use and potential of these media has been demonstrated by a team of very skilled professional thus offering an opportunity for beginners to get practically acquainted on the use of these powerful  communication tools also in interfaith matters. A tentative proposal for a set of Principles of Conduct in using electronic social media has been presented by the International Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Education (IFIIE).

• 1. The conference urged DICID to develop a forum, using electronic social media, in order to enhance interfaith dialogue at the local, regional and international levels.
• 2. Recommendations have been made for DICID to develop further effective communication with Religious Authorities and with women and men of faith all over the world that will result in respect of religions and symbols.

On December 14-15, 2011 in Rome the Interdisciplinary Conference on Sharing Sacred Space has taken place.

    The purpose of the conference has been to discuss the philosophy and theology of sacred space in the Abrahamic religions: panels of distinguished philosophers and theologians have discussed the issue of sharing sacred space. This religious question has many practical consequences. If it is the case that is what is a sacred place to me is "defiled" by you (the ‘other') entering upon it, we need to know this. If there are situations where under religious law sacred space can be shared we need to know that as well. While the conference has explored examples of "popular religion" and space-sharing the focus has been on theology, philosophy, and law.

    The conference has been quite innovative since - in the past -  there has been little, if any, academic discussion of sharing sacred space from a religious and particularly religious law perspective. What there has been has been sociological or anthropological only.

While there have been  some papers on sacred space in Europe (Balkans) and India the bulk of the practical examples have focused on sacred space in the holy land.

    The conference has been cosponsored by the Interdisciplinary Program in Law and Religion, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University; the International Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Foundation (IFIIE) and the John Paul II Institute at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

    The prize was presented on 12 September at the Eight Annual Interdependence Day Forum.  In announcing the award, Benjamin R. Barber, president of CivWorld and chairman of Interdependence Day, described Imam Sajid as a tireless and selfless bridge builder and peace maker working for world peace for many years. 
    "For all of his life since the age of 14 when he became an Imam he has been working for peace, justice, love and harmony among different cultures and communities. He was an adviser to President Clinton on the Middle East, especially for the Palestine/Israel conflict. Imam Sajid was adviser to Rt Hon Tony Blair from 1997-2006. Imam Sajid services for resolving the Kashmir conflict are well documented", Benjamin R. Barber said.
     In accepting the award Imam Sajid said: "In response to the tragic events of 9/11 attacks, Dr Barber's response to Celebrate 12 September as Interdependence Day was the best. People in the world are dependent upon each other and we all need to find joint and common solutions to our common challenges. I feel honoured and humbled to be awarded this year's Interdependence Day Award. I salute Professor Benjamin Barber, founder chairman of Interdependence Day for his vision and commitment for peace. I strongly believe in the age of co-operation and partnership that there is no alternative to dialogue. That is why I joined this interdependence movement and have been attending its celebrations from the very beginning"

Imam Sajid has been serving in the  Advisory Board of Foundation IFIIE since its establishment in 2005.

IFIIE is participating in the "Adyan Understanding Project". This is an intercultural project - launched in November 2009 and supported by the Anna Lindh Foundation - with 5 joining partners: 2 from the Arab world (Jordan and Lebanon) and 3 from Europe (Poland, Italy and France). The project leader is the Adyan Foundation of Lebanon  http://www.adyanvillage.net/

The overall objective of the project is to develop a better mutual understanding regarding religions' cultural dimensions (especially between and within Arab and European societies)

How is it done ? It does so by fostering Cross-Cultural Teaching about Religious issues (CCTR) via new technologies in communication. An online portal created for the program, will act as a platform, providing E-courses, and Teaching and Training Resources, bringing together trainers and learners from all partner organizations. It is foreseen that the project will develop during 2 years.

The target group of the project are young leaders and multipliers, who will integrate the concept of CCTR in their teaching and training practices. Therefore this project is a pilot program that aims, in a long-term process, to be integrated within educational institutions' programs and teaching practices.

Partners Groups: Adyan Foundation (Beirut), Tischner European University (Krakow), International Foundation Interreligious Intercultural Education-IFIIE (Rome), Chemins de Dialogue (Marseille), Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Center-JICRC (Amman)

Other addresses stressed the importance of this dialogue initiative, amongst whom: Dr. Samuel Kobia Secretary General of WCC, Dr. Nava Natheem Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Dr. Abdullah Al.Turki Secretary General World Muslim League.The participants - in the final statement - called for the deepening of positive relationships amongst people of the world. In particular, the following important premises were emphasized:

Quote From Final Statement

a) Rejection of racial discrimination and racial superiority. People are equal in human dignity; they are not superior by race, colour or gender.

b) Diversity among human beings should result in mutual understanding and cooperation.

c) Differences in human beings and diversity of ethnicities, races and religions is a fact permitted by God; it is thus incumbent on the wise people . despite their differences . to seek common grounds through which to achieve mutual respect and understanding for the happiness of humanity.

d) (...) family disintegration and the decay of moral values (...) call for close cooperation to alleviate these problems through sharing our experience and expertise that contribute to effective solutions.

Unquote

The general impression is that King Abdullah has done his part in paving the foundations of this historic "Initiative for Interfaith Dialogue" by visiting the Vatican, meeting the Pope, organizing the Madrid conference in 2008 and bringing together world leaders at the UN General Assembly to discuss the initiative. The momentum is therefore favourable to make progress in the understanding between different cultures, create respect and work for the common good.

The Foundation IFIIE has been invited to this important event by Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki Secretary General Muslim World League.

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Conference speakers expressed the need for legal experts to come up with a clear and common definition of what a holy site is, relying on the help of theologians and philosophers. To this effect, participants raised the issue whether a site may be enduringly holy or whether certain contingent events may compromise its ‘holiness'. Also, it was suggested to replace the term "holy" - most commonly said of a person, or a prophet - with the term "sacred", more suited to refer to a place: be it a monument, a building or a natural site carrying, for objective, or historical reasons, a special religious significance.

Another common thread has focused around the connection between the legal protection of holy sites and the respect of the right to religious freedom of all believers. In this respect, religious, state and international laws have all been recognized to play an important role. International Covenants and Agreements (i.e. the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972) are especially important where the ownership of a holy site is contended by more that one religious institution. Like in the case of the Holy Sepulchre, or the Temple Mountain, in Jerusalem.

The Conference will be soon followed by another meeting in Jerusalem, which will take place on December 18^th. In the future, IFIEE, CUA and LUMSA University will hold separate sessions to delve into the issue more specifically from the standpoint of one religious tradition, or one state legislation. The scope will be to come up with solutions and ideas to share with political leaders in the different areas of the world affected by tensions around the legal property of holy sites.