THE IMAM AND THE PASTOR WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE PEACE BUILDING

The Imam and the Pastor: A Peace building Workshop (U.R.I Inter faith activity)   J       As a nation divided between Christians and Muslims, Nigeria has recently been home to some of the region’s worst clashes between the two faiths. Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye were once enemies in this violent conflict. They now work together to promote peace in their country.  The two men, who head up the Nigeria-based Muslim Christian Interfaith Mediation Centre, are the subjects of a 2008 documentary entitled “The Imam and the Pastor.” The Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Translation (CIDT) is pleased to announce that Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa will conduct a workshop aimed at promoting much needed peace among Egypt's Christan and Muslim communities between June 9 and 19.         CIDT and the Egyptian Moral Rearmament Association last participated with Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye at a similar workshop in Cairo in 2009. Former CIDT Editor Clare Turner wrote about their views on peace and reconciliation in Arab-West Report. Given the recent increase in sectarian violence in Egypt, the subject of interfaith peacemaking continues to be as relevant as ever.   Wuye and Ashafa will lead a pair of 2-day workshops on conflict analysis, conflict mapping, and early response systems. One workshop will be held in Cairo and one possibly in Alexandria. The exact dates for the workshop are not yet fixed, but will take place sometime between June 9-15. If interested, please send an email to Diana Ghali, (dianamghali@arabwestreport.info) who will keep you updated with exact days and location. The workshop will be free. The only thing we require is that you use the skills that you acquire from it. We look forward to welcoming people of all faiths, both young and old, male and female.   Sincerely,   Cornelis Hulsman, General Director of CIDT                                                                                                  Prof. John Kurakar