KAICIID stresses importance of religious institutions’ cooperation with political decision-makers for peace

 It is important to deepen cooperation among all groups of societies, religious organizations and political decision makers around the world in order to find sustainable solutions to violence, Faisal bin Muaammar, secretary-general of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Interculture Dialouge (KAICIID), said at the Religious Responsibility for Peace conference held in Berlin on May 22 and 23.
“Comprehensive solutions are more likely to be sustainable when they take into account religious and moral values, traditions, ethics, customs and community traditions in all their forms,” he said.
“We can empower religious leaders to help decision makers combat extremism, religious violence and terrorism.”
The secretary-general said it became evident through dialogue, meetings and research studies that among the causes of extremism is the wide gap between individuals and religious institutions and political decision makers, resulting in ideological extremism in communities that separate religion and politics.
More than 100 institutions specializing in dialogue, religious figures and top officials from around the world representing 53 countries attended the conference.
Faisal bin Muaammar spoke about the organization’s work in the field of religious dialogue as well as its peace programs with religious leaders and political decision makers.
He said 80 percent of the world’s population has religious orientations, and thus focusing on shared visions, understanding and communication will have an impact on dialogue and interaction.
He invited religious leaders to instil a culture of dialogue and coexistence between followers of different religions and cultures so as to support international cohesion.
He said the organization is planning to hold a high-level conference early 2018 with the aim of launching the first network of religious followers and cultures in the Arab world and enhance human participation based on respect for diversity and cohesion.
He discussed religious responsibility in promoting peace around the world through religious institutions, and by working on combating extremism, violence, and abuse of religious teachings to promote sectarianism and violence.
The King Abdullah Center for National Dialogue between Followers of Religions and Culture is headquartered in Vienna, and works globally on building bridges of cooperation and understanding between religious institutions and individuals and political decision makers.
The center, through the founding countries and its board, has successfully launched programs aimed at promoting participations of religions and cultures in peace building.