The Vienna International Conference Discusses Challenges of Interfaith Dialogue and Emphasizes Mutual Understanding
At the beginning of February 2025, the Austrian capital, Vienna, hosted a global conference for the World Interfaith Harmony Week, with the participation of religious leaders and academics from around the world. The conference addressed several key issues, most notably the rise of hate speech and the role of dialogue in tackling international crises. The event also witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding between several institutions to enhance research and educational cooperation. Participants stressed that mutual understanding is the foundation for building true global peace. The conference concluded with the necessity of transferring the values of dialogue to the younger generation through educational curricula and media platforms.
Harmony 2025″ Youth Camp in Indonesia Promotes Interfaith Dialogue and Environmental Awareness
In February 2025, the Muslim Council of Elders organized a youth camp in Bandung, Indonesia, in collaboration with local religious and environmental organizations. The camp focused on empowering youth from different faiths and cultures to work together on environmental protection, emphasizing that climate issues transcend religious divides. Activities included workshops, dialogue sessions, and environmental marches. Organizers highlighted the importance of linking dialogue values to modern challenges like climate change. The camp received wide praise from both local and international media for fostering social peace and ecological awareness.
Applications open for Human Fraternity Fellowship Programme
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and Georgetown University’s Berkley Centre have opened applications for the second edition of the Human Fraternity Fellowship Programme.
The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students worldwide and promotes intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
It includes a week-long study tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 2025, where fellows will engage with global peers, policymakers, and religious leaders.
The application deadline is Friday, May 16, 2025:
🔗 Apply here
The fellowship began in 2024, hosting 11 students for in-person events in Abu Dhabi.
Participants met leaders like Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb and José Ramos-Horta.
The program aims to empower youth as ambassadors of peace, dialogue, and human fraternity
The Center for Human Fraternity Studies launches an English page on Facebook.
The Center for Human Fraternity Studies launched a public page in English on Facebook entitled Fraternity of Religions and Human Dignity.
Dr. said. Muhammad Habash said that the page will be a platform for communicating with those who believe in human brotherhood, including individuals, bodies, universities and institutions.
A new tour of the Center for Human Fraternity in Georgia
The Center for Human Fraternity Studies launched a new round of dialogue programs in Georgia, within the framework of cooperation and communication between the Center for Human Fraternity in Sharjah and the Evangelical Baptist Church in Tbilisi.The meetings took place mainly between Dr. Muhammad Habash and his accompanying delegation and Dr. Malkhaz Singlovic, Bishop of the Baptist Church in Georgia.
The visit began on the tenth of August and continued until the fifteenth of August, and included visits to the Islamic Center in Tbilisi, visits to the Caucasus Mountains, and a busy program at the Georgian Baptist Church in Tbilisi. A clear picture of the beautiful Islam was presented and bridges were built with the Christian religion.
Call to prayer in the Georgian church
What does it mean to call to prayer in Georgian churches?.. What does it mean to recite and interpret the Qur’an in church?.. The sentimentalists want us to say, “We have raised the word of monotheism in their homelands, and we have made them obligated to the word of truth, and we have shown the supremacy of Islam, and we have established the argument and proof against them!!.. Some of them get more excited and read the news as follows: The churches raise the call to prayer, recite the Qur’an, abandon their beliefs, and announce their entry into Islam!!.. We raised the call to prayer to say that all religions have one source and one goal, which is to spread love on earth and brotherhood among human beings… The sound of the call to prayer… and also the church bell… a message of love, a message of fairness, and a message of great spiritual radiance.
Georgia… Construction of a new mosque in the Garden of the Baptist Church
In a unique initiative in interfaith brotherhood, the Baptist Church in Georgia built an Islamic mosque in the church garden and designated it as a mosque for Muslims…
It was built in the style of the Ayyubid mosques in Damascus, with a beautiful stone Mihrab, and a successive stone arrangement in ten stages that tell the ten qualities of nature. A series of wall niches were built in the Ottoman style, and facilities for ablution and purification were added to it, and an open annex for use on Fridays…
Opening of the Kaftaro Foundation for Religious Tolerance
The Kaftaro Foundation for Religious Tolerance was opened in Sharjah, which is a research, study and publishing center specializing in tolerance, brotherhood, and the empowerment of women. The center chose the name of Sheikh Ahmed Kaftaro to revive his famous tolerance and brotherhood.The Foundation is managed by Ms. Asma Kaftaro, United Nations Counselor to the United Nations Special Commissioner for Syria.
The death of Sheikh Osama Al-Khani
Professor Sheikh Osama Al-Khani, one of the well-known jurists in Syria, died in Damascus. He was famous for his severity in religion, but he adhered to peace, wisdom, and raising the youth. He lived more than ninety years in the pulpit, may God have mercy on him.. Our teacher and educator, Osama Al-Khani, passed away today at the age of over ninety years, during which he did not abandon his message on the pulpit until a few months ago… He was one of the most loyal people to his principles and ascetic from the ruins of the world… Despite his age, purity, and integrity, he was not spared from the plots of evil fanatics who appointed themselves agents of God on earth, issued multiple statements against him, and pursued his disciples and brothers everywhere. May God have mercy on him… He received more injustice than the mountains could bear, and yet he remained loyal to his mission until he met God.
“House of One” Peace Prize for Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili
For the first time, the House of One is awarding its newly launched Peace Prize.With this award, of the House of One wants to honor people, groups or institutions that work for understanding between people of different religions and worldviews, that help to break down enemy stereotypes and that allow trust to grow in their own distinctive way.The first laureate is Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili of the Evangelical Baptist Church in Tbilisi, Georgia and the member of Advisory body in Human Fraternity Studies Center.For many years, the bishop has been working beyond the borders of his native Georgia to promote peaceful coexistence between the religions of the entire Caucasus region.The laudation will be held by Christian Wulff, former German President and member of the Board of Trustees of the House of One.
“Habash – Sonomi” Discussion, about the the Rohingya tragedy..
On the sidelines of the World Peace Summit in Seoul, Dr. Muhammad Habash held a dialogue with the Cambodian Minister of Religious Affairs, Singh Sonomi.. Dr. Habash indicated that extremists wear the robes of priests and priests, and that Wirathu himself committed his crimes in the name of Buddha and believes that he is carrying out the orders of the gods!! Sonomi said: We have issued many statements through our religious references against these massacres, but extremism has no religion.. Dr. Habash stressed that the ASEAN group is required to take a clear and frank position in rejecting the massacres committed in the name of religion, and to achieve a decent life for the Rohingya Muslim refugees…
The symbolism of religions brotherhood at the World Peace Summit..
At the World Peace Summit in Seoul… in the presence of 30 former heads of state and the presence of more than 1,100 social, political and religious leaders from various continents of the world…The summit opened with this beautiful scene where the religions of the whole world meet to share tributaries in the great river that gives people the highest values of humanity….13 religious figures from the world’s religions… carrying cups of water as an expression of the values of the great religions, and they show the world’s religions in the image of a united river of virtues…
Luhsiao Teng – a Taiwanese researcher who chose Islam
Luhsiaoting, a woman from Taiwan, participated in the Human Fraternity Team programs in Taiwan as a translator and team coordinator. After a long journey between the Taoist and Equandao religions, her heart shone with the love of Islam and the love of the Messenger of God, Muhammad… and Mrs. Lu Hsiao Tin chose Islam and chose the name Hanan… Lu Hsiao-ting is a university professor with great ability in linguistics, and she edited our live lectures in beautiful Chinese. Hsiao Ting, or Hanan as she likes to call her, carries a tremendous will to serve people and spread love, and she sees Islam as the highest horizon for spreading love and brotherhood… I am happy that she has begun translating my book Muhammad, Messenger of Peace into Chinese. Hanan today is the voice and image of Islam in Taiwan, and today she is doing work that requires a team of specialists. She believes to the end in the brotherhood of man to man, for there is no Islam without love… and there is no guidance for people except through love!
Visit the Taoist Society in Taiwan
A delegation from the Center for Human Fraternity Studies in Taiwan visited the headquarters of the Taoist Society in Taipei, within the framework of cooperation and acquaintance between the members of the Society and the delegation from the Center for Human Fraternity. Dr. Muhammad Habash, head of the delegation, stated that the visit aims to explore the depths of Taoist philosophy and search for commonalities between it and Islam.. The President of the Taoist Society, Mr. Lee Tumgana, spoke of his pleasure in this unique meeting with Islamic leaders The Center concluded an agreement with the Central Association of the Taoist Religion on brotherhood between followers of Taoism and Islam, and cultural and acquaintance exchange through common media and cultural platforms…
Dr. Amer Al-Hafi calls for deep critical reviews of the culture of parents
Dr. Amer Al-Hafi, Professor of Comparative Religions at Al-Bayt University of Jordan, said during his interview with Khaled Montaser on the “They Think About” program on Al-Ghad TV, yesterday evening, Tuesday, that ISIS will end soon, but its ideology will continue if there is no intellectual review. Al-Hafi pointed out that the problem with the calcified religious mind (which is ordinary religiosity) is that it claims that it will solve the Earth’s problems while it does not understand either the Earth or man. Al-Hafi pointed out that the Qur’an criticized the prophets and companions, and this does not mean that criticism contradicts what is sacred, so how can some jurists abstain from criticism?
Universal Declaration of Ethics
Interfaith dialogue gained momentum in the modern era with the convening of the “World Parliament of Religions” in Chicago in September 1993. About 6,500 representatives from a wide range of faiths met there. The attendees issued a declaration on global ethics, which included several items, most notably non-violence, equality, and environmental responsibility. Karl Joseph Kuchel, who taught the theology of culture and interreligious dialogue at the University of Tübingen in Germany, believes that what happened in Chicago in 1993 was a historic step. Ultimately, the global ethics project of Swiss theologian Hans Kung was adopted and the assertion that there is no world peace without religious peace and no religious peace without interreligious dialogue was adopted.
Interfaith cooperation is not an option
Dr. Azza Karam, President of Religions for Peace, stated that interfaith cooperation is not an option, but rather something inevitable. In humanitarian relief operations, this cooperation leads to confronting all forms of discrimination,” says Azza Karam, who works to promote mutual commitment between different religions.
The woman, born in Egypt, has lived in the United States of America for a long time and has been serving as Secretary-General of the “Religions for Peace” organization since 2019. At the World Council of Churches’ General Assembly meeting in Karlsruhe, southwest Germany, she is leading a campaign for greater interfaith cooperation.
In the past 25 years, the importance of interfaith dialogue has increased, not only since the Islamist-motivated terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Those attacks have reinforced the need for such dialogue. In Karlsruhe, church representatives from Asia and Africa, the most religious regions in the world, report on joint action, or on violence and hatred, for example in Nigeria.
“Fraternity of Religions” by Muhammad Habash
The writer Muhammad Habash published the book “Fraternity of Religions,” in which he talks about the responsibility of men of religions in creating human brotherhood. The book consists of four chapters. The first chapter dealt with the brotherhood of religions in the principles established in Islamic jurisprudence. The second also dealt with the brotherhood of religions in the behavior of the imams of jurisprudence, philosophy, and wisdom in Islam. In the third chapter, the writer held corresponding chapters on the positions of religions on the issue of brotherhood. In the fourth chapter, the author talked about the leaders of the Enlightenment in Europe and pointed out their successive positions in rejecting the monopoly of salvation.
The book on the brotherhood of religions is considered the first of its kind in establishing the concept of brotherhood of religions, its applications and objectives
Barcelona conference
Under the title “Social Inclusion in Cities: Strengthening Multiple Partnerships to Spread a Culture of Dialogue among Local Communities,” the Center for Global Dialogue (KAYSID) is hosting the “4th European Forum for Dialogue on Refugee and Migrant Policies” in Castelldefels, Barcelona.
Annually, this event brings together civil society actors, policy makers, representatives of faith-based organizations and academic experts to discuss the most pressing issues related to the integration of refugees and migrants across Europe.
The fourth edition of the Forum will be attended by over 100 participants from more than 30 diverse countries. Thematically, this year’s participants will explore the role of the media in combating hate speech as well as the importance of building partnerships between multiple partners to support the social integration of migrants in European cities.