MILF signs peace agreement with Philippine government, World Interfaith Harmony Week to be held in February

The World Interfaith Harmony Week, (WIHW) will be held in the Philippines in February 2013. The confirmation appeared today on the website of the Philippine Senate. The Senate vote comes after the historic peace agreement between Islamist rebels and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed this morning in Manila. The document is a first step for the realization of the new autonomous region of Bangsamoro (Mindanao) and sets the stage for the disarmament of the Islamic militias and the beginning of official dialogue between the authorities and Muslim leaders of the island.

According to Senator Loren Legarda the promoter of the bill, the World Interfaith Harmony Week will help to facilitate an end to the conflicts and tensions based on religious diversity and will help the implementation of the agreements between the government and MILF. Thanks to this initiative, the population will have the opportunity to learn about the various faiths in the country, with a great benefit to dialogue between the leaders and representatives of religious institutions. "

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/MILF-signs-peace-agreement-with-Philippine-government,-World-Interfaith-Harmony-Week-to-be-held-in-February-26090.html

Jewish groups join coalition against anti-Muslim subway ads in D.C.

Some national Jewish organizations joined a coalition of religious groups calling on the Washington Metro system to donate profits from an anti-Islam ad to charity.

“The placing of offensive, anti-Muslim ads in the D.C. Metro system is an important opportunity to affirm our commitment both to free speech and to a society that deplores hate and hate speech,” said Rabbi Batya Steinlauf, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington’s director of social justice and interfaith initiatives, and president of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/10/16/3109431/jewish-groups-join-coalition-against-anti-muslim-metro-ads

Muslim Women Bridge Differences To Help Refugees Resettle In U.S.

Iman Shati is a Shiite Muslim who wears the hijab and was a housewife in Iraq. Ayfer Abed Aljabar is a Sunni Muslim who doesn't wear the hijab and worked as a lawyer in Iraq.

While their backgrounds are different, the thing they have in common is a shared commitment to help fellow Iraqi refugees find work and keep their homes. They've also become fast friends.

Using money she had saved, Shati opened the Iraqi & Arab Community Association here last March, about 10 miles north of Boston, where she works as a caseworker. Aljabar, also using her own savings, last year launched the Iraqi American Community Center in Lowell, about 30 miles north of Boston.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/muslim-women-refugees-resettle-in-us_n_1959731.html

Interfaith Dialogue Promotes Religious Understanding

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) People of all religious backgrounds joined together Sunday to promote interfaith dialogue.

The 'Children of Abraham' interfaith collective hosted a talk by the co-founder of the American Islamic Congress, Zainab Al-Suwaij.

http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Interfaith-Dialogue-Promotes--174106761.html