King Abdullah International Interfaith
Dialogue Centre opens in Vienna
Dr. Mozammel Haque
VIENNA:
I came to Vienna, the capital of Austria, today, the 25th of
November, 2012, to attend the inaugural ceremony of the King Abdullah bin
Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue
(KAICIID).
UN
Secretary General, Ban-Ki-moon, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs for the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain, His
Eminence Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki,
Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), and Bartholomew-1, the
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople will all convene amid a gathering of
eminent religious, civic and political leaders from around the world.
These
personalities are coming together to attend the opening of the King Abdullah
bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural
Dialogue (KAICIID) in Vienna.
The
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and
Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) was founded to enable, empower and encourage
dialogue among followers of different religions and culture around the world.
Located
in Vienna, a city long used to being a bridgehead between world religions and
cultures, the Centre is an independent, international organisation, free of
political or economic influence. Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Austria and Kingdom of Spain are the Founding
States of the Centre and these constitute the “Council of Parties” responsible
for overseeing the establishment of the Centre. The Holy See has a role as a
Founding Observer.
The
Secretary General of the Centre, HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar,
stated, “It is my profound belief that this Centre can become a place of
leadership and applied learning, a place where candid dialogue among followers
of different religions and cultures can flourish so that we can value and
cherish the richness of our diversity and live together as good neighbours. And
I am convinced that KAICIID will within a short period of time, build a bridge
for better mutual understanding, facilitating interreligious and intercultural
dialogue to enhance cooperation, respect for diversity, justice and peace.”
Historical Background
In
this connection, it may be mentioned that King Abdullah began this journey of
his interfaith dialogue in 2005 in the Holy City of Makkah, when he called on
all 57 Muslim heads of state to meet in Islam’s holiest city to ponder the
issues of extremism and call for a Muslim renaissance. The King travelled to
Vatican and met Pope Benedict in 2007 offering him peace and friendship on
behalf of the Muslim world.
The
following year, in June 2008, King Abdullah hosted a first historic Interfaith
Dialogue Conference in Makkah al-Mukarramah where more than 500 Muslim
religious scholars and leaders attended.
It was followed by a multi-religious conference in Madrid in July 2008,
which was hosted by King Abdullah along with King Juan Carlos of Spain and
attended by more than 300 representatives from Vatican, Anglican Church,
Judaism, Hinduism and other faiths. Then King Abdullah took the interfaith
dialogue to the global centre-stage at the UN.
Inauguration Ceremony
The
Inauguration Ceremony takes place on 26th of November 2012 at the
Hofburg Vienna. Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, his All Holiness
Bartholomew 1 will deliver the Keynote Speech of the Ceremony followed by the
formal Signature of the KAICIID Affirmation by the Board of Directors. The
musical premiere of a special Dialogue Composition will also be presented.
Its Programme
The
programme of the KAICIID will be announced at the Opening Ceremony. The
Three-KAICIID programmes will start from January 2013 which are as follows:
“Multi-religious Collaboration for the Survival and Wellbeing of Children”,
“The Image of the Other” and “KAICIID Fellows Programme”.
Multi-religious Collaboration for the Survival and
Wellbeing of Children: a major capacity-building initiative aimed at
empowering religious leaders, congregations, faith-based institutions and
individuals across diverse faith traditions to promote the survival and
wellbeing of children in several priority countries.
The Image of the Other: a series of Conferences with
themes including Education, Media and the Internet, aimed at exploring ways to
improve perceptions of the Other.
KAICIID Fellows Programme: The establishment of a
KAICIID Fellowship programme for future teachers of religion and future
religious leaders with a deep commitment to interreligious or intercultural
dialogue.
Its
Role
The
Centre will act as a hub among followers of different religions and cultures,
empowering others already working in the field of dialogue and promoting
harmony and cooperation.
Its
Strategic Objectives
Generate,
develop and disseminate knowledge in the area of interreligious and
intercultural dialogue, cultivation and promotion of respect for differences
through dialogue, and create bridges, address conflict and promote
collaboration amongst diverse groups.
KAICIID
Team
The
Board of Directors comprises high-level representatives of the major world
religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism). An Advisory Forum
of up to 100 members of other religions, cultural institutions and
international organisations will provide a further resource of interreligious
and intercultural perspective.
The
KAICIID Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General, H.E. Faisal Bin
Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar and Deputy Secretary General Mrs. Claudia
Bandion-Ortner.
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