Samuel Mendy, chief executive officer of Youth Power Network International (YPNI) has said that YPNI and the Foundation for Intellectual and Inter-religious Dialogue Initiatives (FIIDI) remain committed at all levels, to promote intellectual and inter religious dialogue and to give opportunity to take ownership of their initiatives.
He was speaking during Youth Power Network International (YPNI) commemorating International day of victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief, at the Alliance Francaise, along Kairaba Avenue.
The commemoration was funded by the Foundation for Intellectual and Inter-religious Dialogue Initiatives (FIIDI) in Canada. August 22 was designated as the day to commemorate the event in a May 28 meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The international day aims to honour the victims and survivors of heinous acts who often remain forgotten.
Mendy added that upholding the declaration of human right Articles 18, 19 and 20, will play a vital role in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.
Basiru Drammeh, Imam of Latrikunda, assessed the current cultural and religious violence and also addressed root causes of cultural and religious violence.
He said religious-based violence is the cause of the lack of knowledge about another religion, creating an atmosphere of intolerance. He encouraged parents to teach their children on tolerance at home.
Imam Drammeh also said that Islam and Christianity are more similar than any other religion, saying another cause of intolerance of beliefs is selective knowledge, in which a whole portion of information is hidden from the masses to suite one’s perception of things.
Pastor Papa Dacosta discussed the role of leaders in addressing cultural and religious violence, saying leaders usually take the wrong perspective instead of serving the people.
