government – Islamic Research and Information Center (IRIC)

Religions for Peace

Islamic Monitor — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 07:29:00 +0000

Religions for Peace is a global interfaith peacebuilding coalition in over 90 countries across 6 regions. These 90 national and 6 regional Interreligious Councils, or “IRCs,” bring together, not only the vast influence and resources of all faith traditions, but also their spiritual commitment to achieve solutions that leave no one behind.

Since its inception in 1970, Religions for Peace has been guided by a vision of a world where faith communities cooperate effectively for peace.

Religions for Peace’s global movement is distinguished by its global leadership, Interreligious Councils, and interfaith women and youth networks which are working at local, national, and regional levels as change makers. They respond to challenges – everything from violence and discrimination to environmental degradation – with bold solutions. For 50 years, Religions for Peace has been a movement changing the world and challenging the status quo through mutual conviction that religions are more powerful, inspiring, and impactful when they work together.

Faith leaders and communities have served on the frontlines of every major challenge the world has ever faced – Religions for Peace brings this expertise and commitment together for interfaith solutions that include government, civil society, and all other stakeholders. From COVID-19 and HIV/AIDs to peace negotiations and creating open space for dialogue in some of the most challenging contexts.

Ten World Assemblies

Every five to seven years, Religions for Peace convenes a World Assembly to bring together faith leaders with government and civil society partners to forge a consensus on global priorities for peace and elect new leadership.

Previous World Assemblies have taken place in 2019 (Lindau, Germany), 2013 (Vienna, Austria), 2006 (Kyoto, Japan), 1999 (Amman, Jordan), 1994 (The Vatican, Italy), 1989 (Melbourne, Australia), 1984 (Nairobi, Kenya), 1979 (Princeton, United States), 1974 (Leuven, Belgium), and 1970 (Kyoto, Japan).

Multi-religious Humanitarian Fund

Religions for Peace supports interfaith humanitarian projects through the Multi-religious Humanitarian Fund. The Fund is currently financing 20 multi-faith projects around the world and as its impact becomes increasingly evident, more individuals, organizations, & foundations are choosing to invest in the idea that we can accomplish more together than apart.

Contacts

Email: info@rfp.org
Website: https://www.rfp.org/

British Muslims are concerned about Islamist extremism and do trust the police, survey finds

Islamic Monitor — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 07:18:27 +0000

The majority of British Muslims are concerned about Islamist extremism and support police along with the principles of the controversial Prevent program, a survey has suggested.

Crest Advisory, an independent crime consultancy, commissioned representative surveys of 1,000 Muslims and 1,000 other adults.

It found that 63 per cent of British Muslims were worried about Islamist extremism and 64 per cent trusted the police – slightly less than the general population.

When asked about the government’s Prevent counter extremism program, which is being reviewed following years of discrimination allegations, 55 per cent of Muslim respondents had not heard of it. When asked if they supported the principle of a scheme that is “mostly aimed at Muslim communities at risk of being drawn into Islamist extremism, because police and security services assess that that is currently the biggest single terror threat”, the majority said they did.

Source: The Independent

Most Western Europeans favor at least some restrictions on Muslim women’s religious clothing

Islamic Monitor — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 10:36:47 +0000

A Danish law that took effect in August makes it illegal for Muslim women to wear face-covering veils – such as burqas or niqabs – in public. Austria, Belgium and France, as well as parts of Italy and Spain, have enacted similar laws in recent years, contributing to government in the region. These laws are largely in line with Western European attitudes on the issue.

Most non-Muslim adults in Western Europe favor at least some restrictions on the religious clothing of Muslim women who live in their country, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey of 15 countries in the region.

The prevailing view (a regional median of 50%) is that Muslim women should be allowed to wear religious clothing as long as it does not cover their face. Fewer (regional median of 23%) say Muslim women should not be allowed to wear any religious clothing. And a regional median of 25% take the more permissive view that Muslim women should be allowed to wear any religious clothing they choose.

In the United Kingdom, for example, 53% of non-Muslim adults say Muslim women in the UK should be allowed to wear religious clothing as long as it does not cover their face, while 19% favor restricting all religious clothing. Roughly a quarter (27%) support allowing Muslim women to wear the religious clothing of their choosing.

The recently enacted laws in European countries do not explicitly target Muslim women’s dress. In the case of Denmark, for instance, the statute prohibits face coverings except for “recognizable purposes,” such as cold weather…

Source: Pew Research Center