Karachi: Speakers of roundtable session at Karachi University (KU) urged promotion of dialogue culture at grassroots level.
Religious scholars and experts at the interfaith roundtable session with the students and the faculty members of the University of Karachi urged the promotion of the culture of dialogue at the grassroots level and observed that it is essential for sustainable peace in the world.
US special advisor on religious minorities in the Near East, South and Central Asia, Knox Thames, Razi Hashmi, Officer Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labour, Anne Sackville-West Political Officer, Professor Dr Ioan Dura and Marina Roxana Cretu from Romania, Professor Dr Michal Valco from Solovakia, the Archbishop of Pakistan Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Sardar Ramesh Singh and Tunsha Patel, Head Peace and Development Organization Safina Javed and General Secretary Peace and Development Organization Salem Gill, UN Women Kapil Dev, Allama Jamil Rathore, Mufti Abu Hurarra, Karachi University faculty members and others attended the session which was held at the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Karachi.
The speakers believe that interfaith harmony could be possible through promoting the culture of dialogues at the grassroots level and observed that hatred against religions should be eradicated from society.
They stressed that dialogue must be a universal norm to remove interfaith differences and mentioned that educational institutions could play a very vital role in this regard. They said that globally we are facing an extremely complex issue. We cannot move forward without resolving the problems.
“We are faced with a wide range of problems which are political and religious in nature. We are encountered with different narratives and mindset. We must think about the attitude. We must not be afraid of addressing the issue and must have an attitude of humility, love, and compassion.”
They noted that to bring positive changes in the society and to create permanent and durable peace in the world we need to promote the culture of dialogue and acceptance of difference of opinion.
According to them, to achieve this goal we have to build and promote religious harmony and students could play a very important role in this regard around the globe. They acknowledged that religious harmony is necessary to meet and address the challenges like hate, violence, injustice, and intolerance in societies.
They said that the truthful narrative must be spread around every corner of the world. Students, who are leaders of tomorrow, could put a true impact in promoting interfaith harmony. They also said that the education institutions particularly universities should encourage the culture of dialogue among the students and faculty members so that they should understand the importance of listening and accepting other’s opinion and actively participates in promoting interfaith harmony
Earlier, Knox Thames while talking to the students and the faculty members at the Department of Islamic Studies, said that promoting freedom of religion and protecting the rights of religious minorities has always been a part of America’s story and history; it is part of who we are. We believe that all governments should share this same commitment to protect and preserve the diverse identities of their citizens.
He further said that the Muslim community in the United States is an integral part of the American fabric. They are members of our government and leaders in our communities. Our nation is richer for having Muslims of all sectors and fields as an integral part of our democracy.
“In the United States, if a school tells a young Muslim girl that she cannot wear the Hijab, our Department of Justice will step in and even sue that school to protect her right of religious freedom.”
Knox Thames added that the United States works to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their faith, are treated equally and enjoy the full protection and security of our laws, by protecting civil rights and combating religious intolerance at home.
“We are not perfect, but we have set a clear priority and we are always striving to live up to our goals of inclusion and equality.”
He mentioned that a society that accepts and embraces diversity in religious thought together with other freedoms creates more space for economics, trade, and people to prosper and thrive together. At its core, religious freedom is freedom of thought – the freedom to question; the freedom to search for an ultimate truth; the freedom to believe or not believe in a higher power.
Meanwhile, the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that the process of dialogue gives us ideas and understanding about each other. He stressed that the solution of the issues does not fall from the skies and it won’t rise from the ground.
He observed that the process of dialogue is the only way forward and expressed happiness that Pakistanis are adapting to the process of dialogue. He said that peace, co-existence, and reconciliation were the need of the hour. He claimed that Pakistan was moving in a positive direction with the help of the dialogue.
Other speakers while expressing their views shared that the change of religion is not allowed under Islamic laws but it is the substantive right in international declaration. They said that majority of the Muslims are facing serious problems of Islamophobia and blasphemy across the world. The dialogue will not be successful if the spirit of dialogue does not have peace and love.