Five-Year Anniversary of ‘A Common Word’ Initiative

October 13, 2012 marks the fifth anniversary of the ‘A Common Word’ Open Letter sent by 138 Muslim scholars and leaders to Christian leaders worldwide. In this time, ACW has become the most successful interfaith dialogue in history between Muslims and Christians. This month sees the launch of a new website (acommonword.com), a new booklet (‘ACW: Five Year Anniversary Edition’) and several high-level conferences in the UK and the USA (see website for details).

www.acommonword.com

Saudi Arabia: preparations for interfaith centre completed

Preparations for the Saudi king's centre for interfaith dialogue have been completed in Vienna, Saudi Arabia's Al-Watan reported Friday (October 5th).

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue is scheduled to be inaugurated November 26th, Al-Watan quoted Faisal bin Muammar, advisor to the Saudi Royal Court, as saying.

More than 600 people from all over the world representing Islam and other religions will attend the inauguration, he said.

http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/newsbriefs/2012/10/06/newsbrief-07

New York Peace Walk: Religious, Interfaith Leaders March To Promote Harmony In The Middle East

In a world fraught with violence, is it too bold to say that peace is possible between people of different religious, national and ethnic backgrounds? One group of religious leaders and peace activists does not think so.

On Oct. 7, 16 leaders adhering to Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim traditions and no tradition in particular, will lead a silent peace walk around Central Park in New York City to show that peace is possible between Israelis, Palestinians, Muslims and Jews in the Middle East.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/new-york-peace-walk-religious-interfaith-leaders-promote-middle-east-harmony_n_1938187.html?utm_hp_ref=interfaith

Saudi Arabia: Islamic leaders urge Muslims to engage other faiths

Muslims have all the potential to engage in dialogue with other faith communities and they should do it effectively in order to bring about communal harmony and strengthen global peace and stability, said Professor Zaleha Kamaruddin, rector of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

She made her remarks yesterday while addressing an international symposium on the significance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue Initiative. The initiative was organized by the Madinah Islamic University in association with IIUM.

http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=354191

Culture minister makes pitch for interfaith dialogue

UAE Minister of Culture Abdul Rahman Al Owais emphasised on Friday the importance of interfaith dialogue so that the world could understand how Muslims see Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and how lovingly they speak about him.

Speaking shortly after opening the UAE’s Burda Award exhibition at the Dolma Pasha Museum in Istanbul, the minister of culture, youth and community development also said that the gallery of collections owned by the Award reflects an ideology and a civilised cultural style for interfaith dialogue.

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/9c365154-48c7-4592-af99-2f423a0b30f6.aspx