SPECIAL REPORT:Interreligious Dialogue on Protection of Holy Sites, Key Peaceful Co existence

By Tina Phineas

The rise in extremist activities, couple with complexity of the world, diversity of human nature and religion has led to the search for peace in the world.

The search for peace led KAICIID,  Education and Sustainable Livelihood Youth Initiative (ESLYI), Search For Common Ground (SFCG) and the Adamawa State Ministry for Information and Strategy to bring together, religious leaders and representatives of youth faith based organizations to dialogue and share perspective in line with their respective religious teaching.

The two day meeting which took place at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Governor's office tagged; Inter religious dialogue on the protection of Holy sites, focused on the need to dialogue on how to protect places of worship for the use of religion believers.

Fatima Madaki, the Executive Director of ESLYI, said the workshop is in response to violent actions targeted at holy sites in the country's, most especially  Northern Nigeria.

It also seek to educate youth on the need for peaceful coexistence with their brother and sister of different faith.

According to her, the goal is to create an avenue for dialogue on how best to protect places of worship and also promote interreligious understanding.

Madaki presented the  Universal Code of Conduct  for the Protection of Holy sites to the participant.

The Code according to her is meant to safeguard places of worship and to promote peace and reconciliation between people of different religion and ethnic affinity.

The Executive Director stressed the need to protect Holy sites as they are prone to attack during crisis or conflict because they are considered sacred to people.

She was however quick to point out that the code is not a legal document, adding that it was signed and endorsed by faith based organisations and senior religious leaders.

Damien Dati, a participant at the workshop commended the organizers for putting together such a wonderful project.

" The workshop is timely and important, it will help us to understand each other better, it will also help us to settle cases of  religious  violence, suspicious and promote peaceful coexistence". He stated.

Our correspondent reports that participants at the workshop promise to share the teachings received with their members and peers so that the world will be better informed.