Holy sites are of crucial spiritual and cultural significance to billions of people and yet history demonstrates how they are often caught up in political, territorial, and religious disputes, becoming pawns of conflict themselves. Harm to holy sites impacts people’s identities, reinforces trauma, and fuels the escalation of violence. To address this, Religions for Peace and partners launched The Universal Code of Conduct on Holy Sites – a cutting-edge strategy to mitigate interreligious conflict and build peace. Our Interreligious Council (IRC) in Bosnia and Herzegovina implemented a project that systematically reported on attacks on holy sites, issued interfaith public condemnations of violence, and actively engaged other stakeholders such as the police, media, and local political leaders to protect holy sites.

During our 9th World Assembly in 2013, more than 600 global religious representatives from 120 countries endorsed our global, Welcoming the Other campaign to stop the conflicts and hostilities that arise from the dehumanization of the “other.” Welcoming the Other is about working together, not only to resist threats to human dignity, but also to promote the flourishing of all beings. It is an opportunity to welcome each person as a co-builder, co-nurturer, and co-steward of our shared well-being, to include living in harmony with nature. Religions for Peace implemented various “Welcoming the Other” projects across the world to promote social cohesion, inclusivity of the marginalized and oppressed, and full participation in society for minority groups.

During the 10th World Assembly, Religions for Peace re-committed to leading by example to instil the respect, mutuality and solidarity that are essential to promote, build and sustain just, harmonious and diverse communities. At the core is a commitment to enable all Religions for Peace IRCs to advance a more robust notion of citizenship that acknowledges basic human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion, in line with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognises that, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

Advocacy

On 22 September, Religions for Peace leaders sent an open letter to the United Nations Secretary-General expressing grave concern about multiple, repeated, and serious violations of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – freedom of thought, conscience and religion – committed by several Member States of the United Nations, against many religious communities. The leaders urged Member States of the United Nations not only to respect and honour all their religious minorities, but also to take extra precautions and clear measures to support, realise and uphold the rights of all communities of faith.

Religions for Peace leaders called for calm when news of Hagia Sophia dominated news waves. Our leaders stated that Hagia Sophia is “meant to be shared with all the world” and committed to “the universality of heritage as something that can create peace and respect for all faiths.”

In the wake of terror attacks in Austria and France, our diverse religious leaders stood together to “Condemning Violence in the Name of Religion – Committing to Building Bridges with Love.”

Knowledge Management (Opinion Pieces & Media)

Following the terror attacks in Austria and France, Prof. Azza Karam featured the stories of Judge Mohammed Abdel Salam, who represents the Grand Imam of Al- Azhar on our governing board and Imam Sayyed Razawi, the Secretary General of the Scottish Ahl al-Bayt Society, and a Trustee of Religions for Peace. Both Muslim leaders firmly attests that these atrocities are against what they believe, what they live, and what they preach, which is: peaceful coexistence, reconciliation, lawfulness, and upholding compassion, love, and forgiveness: Not in Our Name, Never in Our Name: A Conversation with Muslim Faith Leaders Echoing the Wisdom of a Pontiff from IPS News by Prof. Azza Karam.

Capacity Building (Consultations & Convenings)

Religious communities have a moral obligation to prevent violence and discrimination. For this reason, Religions for Peace and interfaith partners launched the Southeast Asia: Advancing Interreligious Dialogue and Freedom of Religions or Belief (SEA-AIR) project to enhance local capacities to combat religious discrimination and prejudice.

SEA-AIR unites six organisations across Southeast Asia, including our Interreligious Councils in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. As part of the project, 60 action-oriented faith leaders and activists participated in an interfaith peacebuilding fellowship where they were trained in mediation, communication, peer learning, analysis, and process design. To support their work, 25 fellowship grants were provided this year. To further equip the fellows, Religions for Peace, adapted its “Citizenship; Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion of Belief and Protection of Vulnerable Communities” guide that was produced for the Middle East and North Africa regions, for the South East Asian context.

More than 150 religious actors and prominent leaders welcomed the momentous step taken by the representatives of the Christian, Kakai, Shia, Sunni and Yazidi communities in Iraq through the adoption of an Inter-Faith Statement on the Victims and Survivors of ISIL in March 2020. This was convened as part of a virtual conference hosted jointly by the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for the Crimes committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) and Religions for Peace. (16 July “Affirming an Interreligious Response to Supporting Peaceful, Inclusive and Just Societies: Building on a Historic Interfaith Statement on ISIL Accountability in Iraq.”)

Current Priorities

ADVOCACY: Religions for Peace will continue to advance a more robust notion of citizenship that acknowledges basic human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion, in line with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It will work to reduce and eliminate violence and hatred against members of religious communities.

CAPACITY BUILDING: As part of the 2021 Global IRC Development Webinar Series, Religions for Peace hosted a webinar designed to equip IRCs for increased action in the area of freedom of thought, conscience and religion It will provide safe spaces for reflection on concerns regarding the political instrumentalization of Freedom of Religion and Belief.

Throughout these efforts, Religions for Peace intends to engage with and leverage shared learning within the Inter-religious Councils/affiliates of the movement.