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Institute Of Community Cohesion - Centre facilitates second Amman Message Seminar with British Council, Berlin
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Centre facilitates second Amman Message Seminar with British Council, Berlin
Date: 19/07/2013

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Following the success of Aprils launch event in Coventry, the second Amman Message European Seminar was hosted on the 25th and 26th June by the British Council in Berlin. The latest event was the second in a series of five seminars which brings people together to talk about the aims of the Amman Message and to explore the potential for the Message in Europe. An extensive two-day seminar programme, funded by the European Commission, provided the opportunity for delegates to learn about Islam in Germany and Europe and about the work and promotion of the Amman Message so far. The first day offered field visits for the delegation from Jordan (Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies), including practical insights and examples of interfaith initiatives in Berlin. The second day, facilitated by Tom Fisher from the Centre for Social Relations, brought a larger group together to introduce the project to local interfaith practitioners and academics and allow an exchange of practices and ideas. During the first day, the project team learnt from the leaders of a significant multifaith project in Berlin. The Lehr und Bethaus am Petriplatz, set to open in 2017 and representing the first of its kind, will be a house of prayer and learning which includes a church, mosque and synagogue under one roof. After an insightful discussion about the concept behind this project, the group was hosted at Berlins biggest Mosque (Tempelhof-Schneberg) where they discussed the extensive public engagement and outreach programmes of the leaders there, including the role of youth and social work in, for example, the local prison service. The second day brought together local practitioners, academics, faith specialists and journalists for an interactive discussion about faith, Germany and the Amman Message. The event was launched by the Director of British Council Germany, John Whitehead who was followed by HE Mohammad Al Qudah, the Jordanian Minister for Religious Affairs. Speakers included Fiyaz Mughal from Faith Matters who shared insight into recent issues facing Muslims in Europe, local Church leader Christopher Jage-Bowler who highlighted examples of interfaith work in Berlin, including the Long Night of Religions and Mr. Rashid, a reporter for Germanys national TV station ZDF who spoke about his programme Forum am Freitag which is the first programme to focus on Muslim life in Germany. The Seminar highlighted how difficult the situation is for many Muslims in contemporary Europe; with some stark examples of challenges and useful insight into how the Amman Message can best be communicated and utilised in Europe. The group were reminded of the need for clear, simple messaging when communicating such complex and sensitive issues as well as a continued effort to engage in inter and intra-faith dialogue, especially through social media. Based on extensive insight gained from the UK and German seminars, the project will now move on to explore the local interfaith challenges in Greece with a seminar in Thessaloniki later this year.

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