08 Sep DICID participates at Bled Strategic Forum 2015
Prof. Ibrahim Al-Naimi, chairman of DICID has participated at 10th Bled Strategic Forum that was held August 31 until September 1, 2015 in Slovenia.
Going through one of the most difficult periods in the past two decades, fraught with many challenges, the Mediterranean is once again at the centre of international political attention. The increasingly louder calls and demands for freedom, dignity and justice have become a new reality in the region that is still striving to create a common area of peace, stability and prosperity.
Prof. Al-Naimi participated at the panel titled “Bridges of the Mediterranean: The Power of Intercultural Dialogue”, where together with other panelists discussed the power of intercultural dialogue in resolving the issues in the Mediterranean.
Prof. Al-Naimi discussed the contribution of the Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue, saying that the centre was reaching out to the conflict points and trying to establish a kind of dialogue, while also empowering women and children through education.
He also explained the difference between unity and uniformity; that has become common idea among certain leaders in both the East and the West to mistakenly use unity for the uniformity and vice versa. From the Islamic perspective unity is key factor for the prosperity in all levels while uniformity is a great obstacle for that prosperity.
In this context, intercultural dialogue, based on shared values and mutual respect among the citizens of the Mediterranean countries, remains an important tool for bridging the gap between countries on the opposite coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Intercultural dialogue should be used to help overcome cultural divides and violence and deal with migration, regressive social trends and radicalisation. It should be a complementary element of a comprehensive long-term strategy for tackling the root causes of political, ideological and social crises in the region.
Prof. Al-Naimi also held few induction meetings with the forum participants exploring the opportunity of partnership and collaboration in the field of interfaith dialogue and education, especially with representatives of Islamic Community in Slovenia, Dr. Nedzad Grabus, the Mufti of Slovenia.
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