Four hundred Christian and Muslim women from 23 countries worldwide recently participated in The International Conference for World Peace in Tehran, Iran. Themed "The Christian Women for World Peace together with the Women of Islam", the conference was sponsored by the International Association of Woman Ministers, P&S Foundation and Mehr White Home and Iran Tour and Tourism Organisation. Following is an extract of their joint statement released at the end of the conference:
"We believe that we are one big family of humanity, brothers and sisters, by creation of God, and are to live with one another peacefully together alongside with others in this small world in spite of some differences between us, and that the differences should not hinder the relationship with our neighbours. Diversity is the marvellous gift of the infinite God…
It is our duty and privilege to love and care for one another without causing unnecessary conflict. We should pay attention to the oppressed and the downtrodden and take a stand against oppressors and exploiters and resist them decisively.
We believe that the leaders of all countries, organisations, or political movements should never religionise their petty causes in order to promote their own interests… Religious faith is for the good of the people, not against them... Anything which oppresses and destroys life and the dignity of human beings should be rejected by all honourable people.
We recognise the immeasurable value of human lives and nothing should degrade the dignity of women by injustice, dishonour or violence, which is prevalent in the present world, and we must uphold all women with love, care and respect. There is no man or woman before. They are all one in Him. Women are the givers of life, the keepers of family, the sustainers of humanity, the makers of future leaders, just as capable workers in various professions as men, with all the basic human rights.
We the participants of the inter-religious peace conference resolve that we are prepared to live in peace with all people regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, country.
We believe that human life itself has the highest value. We also believe in full acceptance of one another and the resolution of all conflicts must be achieved for the good of all by the peaceful means through dialogue, understanding, love and forgiveness.
We resolve that we shall think peace, speak peace, act peace, promote peace wherever we go and whatever we do. We will go forth from this place to be blessed peacemakers.
Muslim headscarf upsets secular European nations
THE traditional Muslim woman’s headscarf, or tudung, has sparked controversy in several European countries, with prime ministers and supreme courts being asked to decide when it can be worn.
Germany’s highest court ruled in October that a Muslim woman teacher had the right to wear a traditional headscarf in the classroom. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled that Stuttgart authorities were wrong to bar Afghan-born Fereshta Ludin from a teaching job in 1998 as there were no existing laws on the wearing of the tudung.
But the issue is far from settled. The court said Baden-Wuerttemberg state could still ban headscarves in schools – but must first pass a new law saying so. The state had argued that a teacher with a headscarf violated "the strict neutrality of public schools in religious issues" and could have undue influence on impressionable young children.
The tudung issue is also stirring debate in France, where five million of the 58 million inhabitants are Muslim. A state commission will make recommendations to the government by year’s end on how best to preserve secularism in French society, including whether new laws are needed on Muslims wearing the tudung in classrooms.
Even in traditionally tolerant Sweden, an ethnic Palestinian, Ms Nadja Jebril, had to fight for the right to have her own cooking programme on TV after an initial rejection because of her headscarf. – Extracted from an article in Charisma News Service with additional information from Reuters, AFP, and AP.
Nigerian State Bans Christian Worship
Authorities of Kumbotso local government council in the state of Kano, Nigeria, have banned Christian worship, a decision that has heightened tensions between Muslims and Christians in the area.
"This directive for Christians not to conduct Sunday worship services has raised a lot of concern," said Rev A.U. Uba, secretary of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
According to Uba, the Kano state government has seized lands belonging to Christian schools and used the sites to construct business shops.
Kano governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau said he was prepared to step on toes in his bid to implement Islamic law, and revealed plans to ban women from commuting in the same vehicles with men.
Shekarau stressed that sharia law would apply to all citizens of the state, irrespective of their religious affiliation. If necessary, his administration would strengthen vigilante groups to support the implementation of Islamic law, he told reporters. – Compass
Attacks on Sri Lankan Christians Intensify
Attacks on Christians in Sri Lanka intensified during the month of October, prompting the National Peace Council to call for a government investigation.
On Oct 19, members of the New Covenant Life Center of Athurugiriya were meeting in a reception hall when a Buddhist monk accompanied by about 50 young men arrived and demanded that the believers vacate the building within 10 minutes.
According to the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (EASL), a leading Buddhist monk in the area had warned the Christians they would no longer be permitted to meet in the village.
One week earlier, Sunday worship at an Assemblies of God church in Embilipitiya was interrupted by seven Buddhist monks and a small crowd of local villagers. They forced the Christians to stop the service and said they should leave the area and practice their faith elsewhere.
The EASL issued guidelines encouraging pastors and Christian workers to maintain a low profile in their villages and avoid unwanted attention. – Compass
