The document discusses inter-faith harmony and sectarianism. It defines inter-faith harmony as a condition signifying peaceful coexistence among different religious beliefs, aimed at eliminating discord. The World Interfaith Harmony Week was established at the UN to promote mutual understanding and respect among people of diverse faiths and cultures. Several organizations worldwide and in Pakistan work to encourage dialogue and understanding between religious groups through activities and education. However, sectarian violence still occurs in some areas due to militant groups and tensions between religious subdivisions.

1. Inter-Faith Harmony
PRESENTED TO:
MA’AM AMNA SHAHID
1

2. Presented By
Fatima Tariq 13041519-004
Ghufran Qamar 13041519-011
Umair Arif 13041519-013
Warda Iftikhar 13041519-014
Department of Computer Science
UNIVERSITY OF GUJRAT-LAHORE CAMPUS
2

3. Sectarianism
Sectarianism, is bigotry, discrimination, or
hatred arising from attaching importance to
perceived differences between subdivisions
within a group, such as between different
denominations of a religion, class, regional or
factions of a political movement
3

4. Sectarianism
 Wherever people of different religions live in close proximity to each other,
religious sectarianism can often be found in varying forms and degrees. In
some areas, religious sectarians (for example Hindus and Muslims)
now exist peacefully side-by-side for the most part, although these
differences have resulted in violence, death, and outright warfare.
 Within Islam, there has been conflict at various periods
between Sunnis and Shias.
4

5. Sectarianism Around Us
 Sectarian violence in Pakistan refers to attacks against people and places
in Pakistan motivated by antagonism toward the target's sect, usually a
religious group. Targets in Pakistan include the Sunni, Shia, and the
small Ahmadi, Hindu and Christian religious groups.
 4,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Shia-Sunni sectarian
fighting in Pakistan between 1987–2007.
5

6. Sectarianism Around Us
 Those blamed for the sectarian violence in the country are mainly Sunni
militant groups, such as the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Tehrik-i-
Taliban Pakistan (affiliates of Al-Qaeda).
 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi "has claimed responsibility for most attacks" on Shia
according to Human Rights Watch.
 Sunni militant groups are also blamed for attacks on fellow
Sunnis, Barelvis and Sufis.
 These attacks sometimes result in tit-for-tat reprisal attacks by the victims.
6

7. Major Incidents
 Ashoura Violence:
 During the Shia procession for Ashoura in November 2013, violence took place
in Rawalpindi leading to a curfew where when the Ashoura procession was
passing in front of a Sunni mosque.
 At least six Imambargahs and Shiaas mosques were burnt by the armed group
of Ahle-Sunnat wal Jamaat on the night of Ashura. Imambargah Hifazat Ali
Shah, Bohar Bazar, Rawalpindi was burnt and Zuljinnah (Horse) was killed.
7

8. Major Incidents
 Violence Against Christians:
 A Christian church was bombed in Peshawar in October 2013 with many
casualties.
 A Christian church in Islamabad was attacked after 11 September 2001, and
some Americans were among the dead.
 In 2012, a Christian town near Lahore called Joseph Town was attacked by a
Sunni mob and the police.
8

9. Sectarianism in Other Parts of World
 Over 1,000 Muslims and Christians were killed in the sectarian violence in
the Central African Republic in 2013–2014. Nearly 1 million people, a
quarter of the population, were displaced.
 Sectarianism in Australia is a historical legacy from the 18th, 19th and 20th
centuries, between Catholics and Protestants.
 The conflicts between Nationalists and Unionists in Northern
Ireland (religious and class-divisions may play major roles as well).
9

10. 10

11. “The true servants of the Most Merciful are those
who behave gently and with humility on earth, and
whenever the foolish quarrel with them, they reply with
[words of] peace.”
(Al Quran, Al-Furqan 25: 63)
11

12. “If we have no peace, it is because we have
forgotten that we belong to each other. Not all of us
can do great things but we can do small things with
great love. Every time you smile at someone, it is an
action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
- Mother Teresa
12

13. “Peace can not be kept by force it
can only be achieved by understanding.”
-Albert Einstein
13

14. “We must work out destiny in our own
way and present to the world an
economic system based on true Islamic
concept of equality of manhood and
social justices. We will thereby be fulfilling
our mission as Muslims and giving to
humanity the message of peace which
alone can save it and secure the welfare,
happiness and prosperity of mankind.”
-Muhammad Ali Jinnah
14

15. “The first day or so [In space shuttle discovery] we
all were pointing to our countries. The third or fourth day
we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day we
were aware of only on earth.”
-Sultan Bin Salman al-Saud
15

16. Need Of Harmony
Harmony is
about co-
existence that
means live and
let live
A way forward
towards peace
and perhaps
prosperity
Urgently
required in a
world of
growing
political and
economic
dissonance
16

17. Inter-Faith Harmony
Inter-faith harmony is a conceivable
condition, signifying peaceful co-existence
among practitioners of various religious
beliefs, aimed at eliminating the possibility
of discord, violent or non-violent.
17

18. World Interfaith Harmony Week
First proposed at the UN General
Assembly on September 23,
2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of
Jordan
Just under a month later, on
October 20, 2010, it was
unanimously adopted by the UN
and henceforth the first week of
February will be observed as a
World Interfaith Harmony Week
18

19. World Interfaith Harmony Week
The World Interfaith Harmony
Week is based on the
pioneering work of ’The
Common Word’ initiative
This initiative, which started in
2007, called for Muslim and
Christian leaders to engage
in a dialogue based on two
common fundamental
religious Commandments.
19

20. World Interfaith Harmony Week
Love of God, and Love of the
Neighbor, without nevertheless
compromising any of their own
religious tenets
The World Interfaith Harmony
Week extends the Two
Commandments by adding
‘Love of the Good, and Love of
the Neighbor’
This formula includes all people
of goodwill. It includes those of
other faiths, and those with no
faith
20

21. Aim Of This Initiative
To promote
Mutual
Understanding
among people
Society where
every person
views and treats
each other with
dignity
Respect and
cooperation
among people
of diverse faiths
and cultures
People come
around shared
values to
promote the
common good
of their
communities as
well as the world
as a whole
21

22. Aim Of This Initiative
To Protect from:
Society and Territories
from Violence
Extremism and
Terrorism
Clashes and Warfare
22

23. Aim Of This Initiative
Identify causes of tension in
Christian Muslim relations. These
are often economic, social or
political rather than religious
Build understanding and
confidence to overcome or
prevent tensions
Break down the barriers and
stereotypes which lead to
distrust, suspicion and bigotry
23

24. Do Not Include…
About talking away or brushing aside differences. It does not
aim at coming to a common belief
A way of converting the other. Each party remains true to
their own faith
A space for arguing, attacking or disproving the beliefs of the
other. It is about increasing mutual understanding and trust
24

25. Inter-Faith Dialogue
The term Interfaith Dialogue refers to
cooperative, constructive and positive
interaction between people of
different religious traditions (i.e., "faiths")
and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at
both the individual and institutional levels.
25

26. Inter-Faith Dialogue
 The history of Interfaith Dialogue is as ancient as religion itself.
 Interfaith dialogue and action have taken place for many centuries. The
Emperor Akbar the Great, for example, encouraged tolerance in Mughal
India, a diverse nation with people of various faith backgrounds,
including Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Christianity.
 In the late 1960s interfaith groups such as the Clergy And Laity Concerned
(CALC) joined around Civil Rights issues for African-Americans and later
were often vocal in their opposition to the Vietnam War.
26

27. Inter-Faith Dialogue
"There will be no peace among the nations
without peace among the religions. There
will be no peace among the religions
without dialogue among the religions" was
formulated by Dr Hans Küng, a Professor of
Ecumenical Theology and President of
the Global Ethic Foundation.
27

28. Organizations Working Worldwide
 Some of Organizations Working worldwide:
 World Fellowship of Inter-Religious Councils (WFIRC)
 Three Faiths Forum
 North American Interfaith Network (NAIN)
 International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
 International Interfaith Centre (IIC)
 Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC)
 And many more…
28

29. Activities in Pakistan
 Some of Organizations Working in Pakistan:
 International Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony (IPCIH)
 Global Peace Pioneers (GPP)
 Muslim Christian Dialogue Forum by Minhaj-ul-Quran
 Christian Study Centre (CSC)
 World Council of Religions (WCR)
 Channan Development Association (CDA)
 And many more…
29

30. 30