19 Mar With the participation of foreign students from universities in Qatar DICID organizes the second forum for dialogue among young people
The Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue organized the second Youth Dialogue forum for University students in Qatar. The event aimed to promote culture of dialogue and coexistence between diverse cultures and religions and to highlight Qatar’s cultural role as an open society where various cultures live in a positive interaction.
The meeting was attended by, HE Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Naimi, Chairman and Mr. Yousuf Abdallah Al-Subaie Executive Director and a number officials of Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue.
The event provided an appropriate environment for participants to learn about the culture of the State of Qatar on the one hand, as well as the cultures of the countries they belong to. Twenty-seven young men and women from Europe, Africa and Asia participated in this gathering , representing Qatar University and and Georgetown University in Qatar.
In its opening speech, Ibrahim Al-Naimi, pointed out that these students representing the elite of societies, are the ambassadors of Arab and Islamic culture to their countries. It is therefore important to hold such meetings to familiarize them with the local culture and tolerant nature of the Qatari society.
Al-Naimi added: “This is our first mission of the DICID which we are constantly striving to achieve. The Center is a bridge between citizens and residents. We continuously are organizing activities to implements that aim through achieving interaction between different communities, as well as amongst universities students and school students to promote culture of dialogue and coexistence.
As for our second mission at the international level, Dr. Al-Naimi added: “We are working to promote global dialogue between different religions and cultures around the world through our participation to the international Conferences, for instance, we have engaged an international dialogue between different religions and cultures around the world through our foreign contributions. We have organized interfaith activities in Ukraine during the problems with Russia. We have also carried out similar activities in Russia, where we have continued with the religious leaders and educated elite of the two communities. We believe that even in times of war, the connection between communities should not be interrupted, as was the case for the State of Qatar. We have a similar activity in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we visited the region and organized activities that promote interaction between communities.
Dr. Al-Naimi concluded by pointing out : This is the second forum, and I am happy to hold it. This event is considered an influential activity that builds a culture of love and peace to bear fruit in the future, God willing, and we ask God to contribute to the promotion of international peace. The recent emergence of terrorist acts such as what we have all seen in the New Zealand mosques shooting .
The participating student share their views on the matter, in particular pointing out their own experiences, a student, Yusuf Ali commented on India his home country : “India is home to many religions and has hosted a number of interfaith dialogues meetings . It is from this background that I have come to this great country to participate in dialogue. I have met many cultures and benefited greatly under the umbrella of the Doha International Dialogue Center Religions.”
In her intervention, Ukrainian student Elena, who learns Arabic at Qatar University, added : “ today’s participation is important because it contributes to the promotion of tolerance and interfaith dialogue, and ultimately we are all human beings. There is no difference between religion, race or culture.”
The two hour dialogue sessions, moderated by Dr. Ibrahim al-Naimi, has provided a rare opportunity of positive and constructive interaction between participating students to exchange views on various issues relating to cultural diversity and interfaith dialogue.
The session was followed by outdoor recreational activities that vehicle values promoting culture of dialogue in an inspiring and entertaining way.
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