On 29 September 2023, the Islamic Studies Association (ISA) organized a webinar on the “Human Fraternity Document (HFD) and Interreligious Relations in West Asia”, featuring as guest speaker Mr. Emiliano Stornelli, Chairman of the Religion & Security Council (RSC). RSC promotes conflict resolution and cooperative approach to security through active engagement in the religious dimensions of international crises. RSC raises awareness on the means and guiding principles that religions can provide to support peace-making efforts and defuse confrontational situations.
RSC Chairman invited the participants, who were on-line from Europe to Asia-Pacific, to discover the great potential of HFD which constitutes an invitation to reconciliation and fraternity among all people of goodwill. HFD recognises that extremism is “‘”the result of political manipulation of religions”‘” and “incorrect interpretations of religious texts”. HFD exposes the root causes of extremism, such as poverty, hunger, injustice, and oppression. HFD advocates education to promote the culture of tolerance and acceptance, teaching students to adhere to moral values. HFD endorses the culture of dialogue as path, reciprocal understanding as method and mutual co-operation as code of conduct between diverse groups of peoples to live in harmony.
RSC Chairman further pointed out that HFD invites educators, peace activists and all people of good will to find ways to defuse tension, facilitate mutual cooperation, create bonds based on trust and respect among groups that preserve in their memories malicious prejudices and hatred for one another. “Education, to be true to its character, must prevent theological or doctrinal differences as well as political, historical, ideological fault lines being translated into sectarian postures and violence”‘”.
The presentation was followed by a lovely conversation based on establishing Human Fraternity Forums in Coimbatore (India) and Tripoli (Lebanon).