Mabda Report 04/11/12

Vatican joins King Abdullah intl center for cultural, religious dialogue

The Vatican joined an international organization for cultural dialogue, founded by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, as a founding observer on Thursday.

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), founded in 2011 and headquartered in Vienna, moves to promote mutual understanding among followers of different religions and cultures.

An official from the Vatican, representing the Holy See and the Catholic Church, joined the group as they convened on Thursday. The forum was attended by Saudi vice minister of foreign affairs, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, as well as delegates from Spain and Austria, also founding members of the group.

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/02/247279.html

Fighting Islamophobia in schools

How can schools promote tolerance and mutual respect, in today’s increasingly diverse, globalized world? Education professionals and policymakers from several European countries and the United States will meet to explore the question of “Globalization, diversity and social cohesion in educational settings” at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters on 5 November.

Fashioning new ways to live together in an age of diversity starts on the benches of schools, as UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova stressed last month in New York, while speaking on education on human rights. “Through education, we can teach children not to hate from the very young age. Through education, we can raise tolerant leaders. Through education, we may establish a lasting culture of peace.”

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/resources/in-focus-articles/fighting-islamophobia-in-schools/

Islamophobia rally to be held in London

British anti-war campaigners will hold a protest against the rise of Islamophobia in Britain and across Europe in London.

The Stop the War Coalition said the protest will be held at London Muslim Center to raise awareness about the “ugly phenomena” of anti-Muslim hatred.

“Islamophobia or anti-Muslim hatred is reaching worrying heights in Britain and across Europe. This ugly phenomena gained currency in part due to the popular thesis … about an impending clash of civilization between Islam and the West,” the group said.

http://presstv.com/detail/2012/10/31/269805/islamophobia-rally-to-be-held-in-london/