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Report highlights need for better communication between Muslims and non-Muslims Contact: In Brief:
London, United Kingdom, 25 March 2008 – Over 30 leaders of business, politics, religion, media and civil society gathered in a symposium organized by the World Economic Forum, in partnership with Georgetown University (USA), on the occasion of the official launch of the first Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue. This first of its kind report is a systematic and thorough overview of how Muslim and Western societies perceive and relate to each other at the political, social, economic and cultural levels. The theme of the symposium was to debate and discuss the issues surrounding Muslim communities in Europe raising questions that were looked at in the Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue. The Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue report finds that majorities in populations around the world believe that violent conflict between the West and the Muslim world can be avoided, but they also share a great deal of pessimism about the state of the relationship. Among both Muslim majority and non-Muslim majority nations, the proportion who say they think the “other side” is committed to better relations rarely rises above a minority of 30%. Notwithstanding the prevalent sense of scepticism, majorities of residents in nations around the world say that better interaction between the Muslim and Western worlds is important An important finding of the report is the emergence of citizenship and integration as the second most powerful shaper of the state of dialogue after international politics. Growing Muslim minorities committed to active and full citizenship particularly in Europe are increasingly finding a voice in the public sphere. Governments, committed to ideals of equality and recognition, but eager to maintain majority support and national cohesion, are seeking to engage Muslim groups in structured dialogue; with mixed results. Greater interaction with the Muslim world is actually seen as a threat by 60% of the citizens in many European countries but not in America or Israel. The Symposium chairs made the following comments: "The symposium has opened the dialogue … the spark is there. It is not just about Islam and the West … we are speaking about communities. The main themes we discussed in the symposium were tolerance and trust between Muslims and the West in Europe and the UK. The communities are complaining of not being heard. You should have as much faith in your interlocutors as you do in yourself.” "We should be building on what we have done … there is real acknowledgment on both sides that we are all guilty of not building the bridges that we are capable of doing … and now we are actually listening to each other. The debate will not end. The world is in such a state and the divisions are so deep and dark. The issues of September 11th are still with us and what we have got here is a real community of trust and faith including members of the secular community. We should look towards the future with a ray of hope." "We were able to identify some important categories that can change our conversation as we move forward. For example, the focus of the conversation on the term of 'multiculturalism' can play in terms of strengths and weaknesses, challenges and limitations. We need to recognize that there are specific challenges embedded in the questions presented which go much deeper. We look forward to addressing these issues in the upcoming meeting in Washington DC in early April." "The symposium brought together some of the most influential leaders and activists that represent very opposing views on the status and future of Muslim communities in Europe. The objective of the gathering was not to debate or attempt stakeholders of opposing views on this matter. We invited participants to work with inquisitive minds to construct an objective, accurate and current account of the positions of the most important stakeholders in Europe regarding Islam in Europe," said Sherif El Diwany, Director, Head of Middle East. The Symposium was attended by number of high level participants, among them Ed Husain, Author of The Islamist; Paramjit Dhanda, Minister for Cohesion, Faith and Race of the United Kingdom; Richard Chartres, Bishop, Diocese of London, United Kingdom; David Rosen, Chairman, The International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Relations, USA; Gunnar Stalsett, Executive Member, World Conference of Religions for Peace, Norway; Sigmund Sternberg, Co-Founder, Three Faiths Forum, United Kingdom. Notes to Editors Press Releases: http://www.weforum.org/pressreleases
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. (http://www.weforum.org) |
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