Current News

2024 HM King Abdullah II UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize Winners Announced

March 23, 2024The 2024 HM King Abdullah II UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize winners have been announced. “The WIHW promotes the common basis of “Love of God and Love of the Neighbour, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbour”. Its message invites everyone, excludes no one, and is purely voluntary.”— HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad AMMAN, JORDAN, March 22, 2024 / EINPresswire.com / — On September 23rd 2010, HM King Abdullah II of Jordan introduced a World Interfaith Harmony Week at the Plenary Session of the 65th UN General Assembly in New York. This resolution was adopted by the UN on October 20, 2010, and the first week of February, every year, has been declared a UN World Interfaith Harmony Week. https://www.un.org/en/observances/interfaith-harmony-week https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/ The Background HM King Abdullah has long been known for his peace initiatives including The Amman Message and the Common Word. The UN World Interfaith Harmony Week seeks to promote the common basis of “Love of ...

UN event – Overcoming Hate: Reaching Across the Divide to the “Other” – Partnerships and Peacebuilding at the Grassroots Level

March 10, 2024Summary Event on the occasion of Interfaith Harmony Week sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations. Description The theme this year is – Overcoming Hate: Reaching Across the Divide to the “Other” – Partnerships and Peacebuilding at the Grassroots Level. Join us for this timely program featuring perspectives from: The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations. The Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations. The Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. Faith leaders from the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, and Muslim traditions. NGOs. Youth. Related Sites and Documents Website of the World Interfaith Harmony Week   https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k18/k18jyvglr6    

House OKs bill declaring February 7 as National Religious Freedom Appreciation Day

March 19, 2023House OKs bill declaring February 7 as National Religious Freedom Appreciation Day March 19, 2023 By Billy Begas   The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the proposal declaring February 7 of every year as National Religious Freedom Appreciation Day. House Bill 7210, which was approved unanimously with 302 votes, was in line with the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week of the United Nations. According to the bill, the Council on Interfaith Initiative under the Office of the President will be tasked to promulgate the rules and regulations to ensure the significance of the celebration.   LINK

Harmony in a World in Crisis – World Interfaith … – UN Web TV

February 15, 2023https://media.un.org/en/asset/k19/k19i50ypu2 Summary Working together to achieve peace, gender equality, mental health and wellbeing, and environmental preservation. Event organized during World Interfaith Harmony Week (1-7 February). Description Future pandemics and natural catastrophic events are likely to continue, adversely impacting the health and wellbeing of peoples. These stressors will continue accentuating already-existing inequities, unless addressed with urgency. The Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of Sierra Leone, Belize, and the Permanent Observer of the Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations Faith leaders from the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim traditions and spiritual leaders representing the Onondaga Nation and African Traditional Religion The World We Want, youth panel discussion Celebratory musical performances In 2010, the UN General Assembly passed a Resolution proposed by King Abdullah of Jordan (A/Res.65/5) establishing the first week of February each year as World Interfaith Harmony Week to be observed by meaningful programs and initiatives to promote harmony among the world’s faiths. Related Sites and ...

The Interfaith Legacy of Pope Benedict

January 12, 2023The Interfaith Legacy of Pope Benedict January 2, 2023 by Admin Pope Benedict was feted by leaders of other religions as a kind and gentle person. His intellect guided the Catholic Church’s orthodoxy and belief during his 25 years as the head of the Vatican congregation that steers the faith of its worldwide churches. Here, we look to the interfaith legacy of Pope Benedict, who was – indirectly – a cause of World Interfaith Harmony Week coming into being. Relations with Muslims When Pope Benedict visited Istanbul’s Blue Mosque in 2006, he took off his shoes and stood in silent meditation with his arms folded in the same manner as the imam praying next to him. This was read by many Muslims as a sign of deep respect and as a gesture that ran directly counter to a speech he had made two months earlier at the University of Regensburg, Germany.     Pope Benedict at Instanbul’s Blue Mosque In the Regensburg ...

On banks of the River Jordan, an interfaith haven is planned

December 20, 2022Source: The Christian Science Monitor Wild reeds, spindly acacia trees, and dusty mountains greet travelers to this remote, arid spot. Yet here, near the lowest point on Earth, Jordan’s royal family is hoping visitors find something uplifting: their common humanity. By the River Jordan, near the spot where many believe Jesus was baptized and John the Baptist held his ministry, Jordan is embarking on building a new village and vast interfaith ecosystem that is promised to be the largest Christian pilgrimage and interfaith center in the Middle East. In a ceremony last week, King Abdullah unveiled a “baptism zone” masterplan, including a village, biblical wilderness, museum, farms, and spiritual and study center next to the traditional baptism site. The initiative brought together international advisers and a foundation directed by the monarch that they say is charged with creating a “haven for interfaith contemplation.” Jordan and the Hashemite royal family, which acts as the custodian of the baptism site, hope the ...

Pakistani professor gets King Abdullah II prize

July 20, 2022Ambassador of Jordan Ibrahim Al Madani hands over award; Prof Arshad all praise for the Jordan leadership for the honour DNA ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani professor Dr. Arshad Munir, Department of Islamic Studies Ghazi University has been awarded with King Abdullah II prize in connection with World Interfaith Harmony Week. The professor got the seond prize. To decorate the professor with the prize Ambassador of Jordan to Pakistan Ibrahim Al Madani hosted a small but impressive ceremony and handed over the award to Dr. Arshad Munir. It may be mentioned here that in 2010 King Abdullah II of Jordan introduced the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the plenary session of the 65th UN General Assembly in New York, making the first week of February of every year a time to bring together all people, regardless of their faith or those with no faith to celebrate religious and cultural tolerance and understanding. Prince Ghazi bin Muahmmad, Chief Advisor to King Abdullah II for ...