The
Gambia branch of EUCLID University on Sunday commemorated the 2017 edition of
the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week at its headquarters in
Brusubi.
The
theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Calls for everyone to become agents of
World Peace, and interfaith harmony ambassadors towards tolerance, togetherness
and global peaceful co-existence.
Ancha
Gaye, EUCLID acting office manager, said the commemoration was meant to create
commitment towards supporting the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week which has
both institutional and experiential components.
Gaye
pointed out that EUCLID’s intergovernmental statutes call for the offering of
graduate programmes in Inter-Religious Dialogue as well as the establishment of
the International Institute for Inter-Religious Diplomacy.
Muhammed
Loum, EUCLID director of HQ operations in The Gambia, said the commemoration
would pave the way to greater interfaith dialogue and integration of different
religious followers.
He
emphasised that interfaith should not be understood as a call for religions to
be one.
“It
is not ‘Christmus’. Rather, it calls for responsible dialogue, understanding
and respect towards mainly the Abrahamic religions (i.e. Judaism, Christianity
and Islam),” Mr Loum said.
Reading
the Banjul Declaration marking the week on behalf of the Mayor of Banjul,
Sandigie Njie expressed optimism that “the tolerance, love and peaceful
co-existence which Banjul has been known for before, during, and after the
colonial era, shall continue to prevail and flourish throughout the ages”.
According
to him, prejudice, tribalism and religious sentiments and intolerance are the
new destabilisers of the world.
“Let
us say no to all forms of Islamophobia and xenophobia. Let us live together in
spirit of peace and oneness, for it is only through peace where we can all
enjoy the benefits of sustainable development,” Njie said.
