It is always heartwarming to hear about people who are working in their own way to initiate change for the better. A Greek Orthodox priest and a Muslim imam are working together to promote inter-faith solidarity. Father Timotheos Anthis and Imam Munir Mahmood are holding a series of public meeting around Athens where local residents of both faiths have the chance to meet each other.
According to research conducted by the synod (Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece), immigrant Muslims residing in Athens say they do not feel discriminated against because of their religion. The findings of the survey, however, suggest that they do suffer racism and ethnic discrimination, especially in the labour market. Many of the immigrant Muslims participating in the survey also expressed displeasure with employers who do not respect their religious holidays and celebrations.
The dialogue is especially welcome here in Greece where, according to a new Eurostat survey, only 13 percent believe that people with a different background (ethnic, religious or national) enrich the cultural life of their country. In the rest of Europe, it is almost three-quarters of the whole population.
The article goes on to talk about the reality of day-to-day interaction with people of different cultural backgrounds. Read the whole article here at the Athens News
Technorati: greece, religion, greek orthodox, muslim, culture
After reading this article, I felt a warm fuzzy to see the different religions working together. I don’t know if anyone has ever heard about this apparent coalition for peace. I found this a few years ago on an obscure website and now can’t remember where:
But here’s the gist of it:
GENEVA- After years of sectarian violence, a coalition of Jews, Muslims, and Hindus signed an international resolution Monday, confirming their mutual appreciation of chicken dishes. “Whether it is breaded with matzo, served as shwarma, or covered in tikka masala sauce, chicken is the one meat upon which all faiths can agree,” said spokesman Jerome Maliszewski, addressing an assembly of rabbis, mullahs, and shamans. “Let this friendly exchange of recipes be the first tentative step toward everlasting peace.” Attendees at the combination summit and potluck dinner labeled it a qualified success, regretting the altercation that broke out between factions with differing views on skewer length.
Is this type of inter-religious dialogue and friendship conducted in Turkey, Saudi Arabia or Israel?
There are always individuals or small groups of people within any country who are working towards peace and understanding. I just quickly did a google search for inter-faith dialogue and peace education and came up with thousands of results from all over the world, including the countries you mention.
Here are a few but you can do the research and find many others
Between Greece and Turkey:
Between Palestians and Israelis
Religious scholars in Saudi Arabia promoting interfaith dialogue
Thanks Diva. However, the governments of those countries have also legislated against minority religions. Have you thought about writing a post about the human rights of Greeks of Constantinople? More broadly, are they human?
Yes, I understood your point, legein, but the post is about the fact that individuals can and do start initiatives in small but significant ways.
As to posts concerning situations outside Greece…I would love to be able to maintain a blog about human rights on a global scale but I am (sadly) only one person and that would be impossible for me. It takes a lot of work maintaining this small blog. So, to answer your question, yes I have thought about writing about all sorts of things but I have to keep the scope of this blog small and focused.
Your question of “are they human ?” is very odd. Of course they are. All people are human. Just because I don’t write about human issues pertaining to people outside Greece, doesn’t mean I consider them not to be human ! I don’t write about many many issues that concern me but I think I’ve made it very clear what this blog is about. I know this might be a complete cliche by now, but why don’t you write about the issues you really care about and invite people to debate them on your own blog! It takes a long time to build up a “community” around a blog but if people are interested, they will come eventually.
Martin, you appear to imply that EU is some sort of panacea. Regardless of whether Turkey is part of the EU or not it still has obligations as a member of the UN, NATO, the Treaty of Laussane and as a neighbour. Martin, has your property ever been expropriated?
Devious, considering your interest in human rights I would have thought you would tackle the issue of Greeks in the City or Greeks of Cyprus or Greeks of Northern Epirus especially because it concerns your fellow citizens and their relatives. You are being elusive which is not surprising. Please tell me why your concern for human rights extends to some people and not others? Are some people more important than others?
Okay maybe this isn’t getting through so one final time in general to people who come here and start making a noise about XYZ and countries that are not even relevant to this issue – Stop making comparisons to countries where we’re not living. A good thing is happening in Greece, why do you have to go and criticise it and pick fault? Really, what is the matter with you?
I think this is great news and a step forward for Greece. Bravo to all those involved, personally for me this is a big deal and I’m happy to be reading about it.
legein
I took the time and the trouble to explain this in the comment directly above yours.My concern for human rights issues extends to all people. I cannot possibly blog about everything I care about. It seems to me that anything I say or do on this blog will not please you. (Not that that’s what I am trying to do but you know what I mean)
Perhaps it would be an idea for you to examine why you feel the need to critisise and undermine me even about the things I don’t write about ! I am not going to justify myself any further with you. You either take it or leave it. This blog is not going to change.