This one-day conference on Islamic Traditions of Peace and Nonviolence focused on linking theological and religious interpretations of peace and nonviolence with tangible practices at the community, as well as, policy making levels. More specifically, the conference offered space for critical reflection on these and many other questions:
In October 2007, the Salam Institute for Peace and Justice and the United States Institute for Peace partnered together to sponsor a seven member delegation of Muslim American Islamic scholars to travel to Iran. Over the course of the ten day trip, the delegation traveled to Tehran, Qum and Isfahan to engage in conversations with various human rights organizations, civil society groups, non-governmental organizations and religious leaders. Throughout the trip, key observations were made by the delegation concerning the escalation of violence, internal political turmoil and the importance of the role of nonviolence and peace and conflict resolution in the country.
In order to continue its efforts to enhance the peacebuilding capacity of Muslim peacebuilding actors and to provide a platform to continue the discussion that started with the First Annual Conference, Salam Institute and ISNA held the Second Annual Conference of MPJID on May 5th-6th 2007. This conference aimed to create an opportunity for Muslim scholars and practitioners to convene to discuss and clarify main concepts and approaches to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, human rights, democratization and development rooted in the Islamic tradition; to contribute to effective policy development in the Muslim world in the fields of governance, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding; and too provide a platform for Muslim Peacebuilding practitioners to share their experiences on the ground with the wider community of Muslim and non-Muslim scholars and practitioners in order to contribute to theory building and practice of conflict resolution in the Muslim world.
Sponsored by the Salam Institute for Peace and Justice, the Islamic Society of North America, the Conflict Transformation Grant and Fuller Theological Society and the Mohammed Said Farsi Chair of Islamic Peace at American University The first annual Muslim Peacebuilding, Justice and Interfaith Dialogue Conference was a unique event, bringing together various members of the Islamic peacebuilding community interested at exploring the changing face of Islam in American society since September 11, 2001. The Conference aimed to explore the dynamics and intersection of Islamic peacebuilding, conflict resolution and interfaith dialogue in the Muslim world today.
This two day training led by Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana and Salam Institute co-founder Amr Abdalla provided training to Imams in the areas of Islamic understanding of peace, Islamic principles and values of conflict resolution, interfaith dialogue and development and how these principles and values can be applied to current day conflicts.
In each of these three cities, leaders from both religious communities came together for an open and constructive discussion focused on garnering a more comprehensive understanding of each faith as well as building awareness and understanding regarding each faiths' approach to peace.
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Faith-Based Peacebuilding: Mapping and Analysis of Christians, Muslim and Multi-Faith Actors
Tsjeard Bouth, S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana, Mohammed Abu-Nimer. Released by the Salam Institute for Peace & Justice and the Clingendael Institute. November 2005.
This desk study analyzes 27 Christian, Muslim and multi-faith organizations that are working on peace-building in conflict situations. By studying how they operate as peacebuilders, the study aims to shed more light on the peace-building potential of faith-based organizations. It particularly aims to advise donors on how they can deal with faith-based peacebuilding in policy. Based on this first and limited analysis, the authors came to the following findings, donor recommendations and suggestions for follow-up study.
Muslim Peacebuilding Actors in the Balkans, Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region
Compiled by the Salam Institute for Peace & Justice for the Clingendael Institute. May 2005.
This report maps out Muslim peacebuilding actors in Africa and
the Balkans, describes and analyzes their activities in terms of their contribution
to peacebuilding processes in their regions.