Celebrated on 1 February each year, World Interfaith Harmony Week aims to underscore the significance of mutual understanding and dialogue among religions as vital elements in the global cultural context for achieving peace and global harmony. In light of this international occasion, this press release highlights the perspectives of some professors from the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Qatar University (QU) regarding the impact of the World Interfaith Harmony Week on cultural interaction and collaboration among followers of different religions in society. In a statement on this occasion, Dr. Hassan Obead, Professor of Aqeedah and Dawa at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, stated, “QU plays a crucial and central role in promoting understanding and dialogue among different religions, as religion represents one of the most important foundations and concepts that contribute to human socialization and civilizational development. On the occasion of World Interfaith Harmony Week, it is essential to commend the distinctive and effective role played by QU at the local, regional, and international levels through the establishment of prominent academic programs, including the Master's and Ph.D. programs in Religions and Dialogue of Civilizations.” He added, “The UNESCO Chair for the Alliance of Civilizations in Sharia and Islamic Studies, the teaching of the Alliance of Civilizations course, and the organization of international scientific seminars, events, conferences, competitions, and awards all embody Qatar's vision of achieving human coexistence and building a cultural common ground among all religions amidst profound cosmic changes.” Prof. Abdelkader Bekhouche, Professor of Creed and Religions at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, stated, “Qatar has played an active and influential role in supporting the United Nations initiative for the Alliance of Civilizations, based on its permanent constitution and Vision 2030. This is manifested through the establishment of institutions, centers, and committees to enhance the Alliance of Civilizations.” He continued, “These interactions, dialogues, and discussions have translated into initiatives and activities in the fields of education, media, and migration. Qatar also hosted the International Fellowship Program for the Alliance of Civilizations, bringing together a select group of young leaders from Europe and America. Moreover, Qatar's generous donations to the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Trust Fund and Donors aimed to establish the foundations of peace, security, and stronger cooperation among races, religions, and cultures.” Dr. Azzeddine Mamiche, Head of the UNESCO Chair for Dialogue of Civilizations and Professor of Aqeedah and Dawa at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, stated, “It has become imperative to raise awareness among religious and media institutions about the pivotal role they play in consolidating cultural and civilizational diversity in the world. They must confront hate speech in societies and produce alternative, effective media content that encourages local, regional, and global communities to embrace the values of coexistence, tolerance, and respect for others.” Dr. Mamiche emphasized, “It is important to empower journalists with cutting-edge technologies and analytical skills to combat hate speech. This is particularly crucial in the face of attempts to impose a singular model and restrict cultural and religious diversity. It involves adhering to principles of fairness and applying consistent standards, especially in critical issues such as the oppressive war on Gaza and the occupation of Palestine. Qatar is actively engaged in producing effective alternative media content aimed at encouraging local, regional, and global communities to embrace values of coexistence, tolerance, and respect for diversity. This objective is pursued through credible visual media that accommodates diverse opinions, along with the creation of scientific, educational, and cultural resources. Dr. Mamiche continued, “Qatar has sponsored an international award in the three widely spoken languages, Arabic, English, and French, organized by the Qatari Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair for Dialogue of Civilizations at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at QU. The award addresses the 'Role of Advocacy and Media in Promoting Coexistence and Combating Hate Speech.' In support of this effort, three reference books in this field have been published, and one of them has been translated into English. These resources underscore that the media's role can be highly effective in solidifying coexistence and combating hate speech when they introduce diverse cultures, traditions, and beliefs to eliminate stereotypes that fuel positions of hatred.” Dr. Ala' Hailat, Associate Professor of Aqeedah and Dawa at the College of Sharia, expressed, “The World Interfaith Harmony Week plays an influential role in promoting coexistence and harmony among followers of various civilizations and religions. The week fosters cultural interaction based on shared human commonalities, providing a broad and vast space for the development of cultural and civilizational relations among people of different religions, languages, and races.” Recognizing that mutual understanding and dialogue between religions are crucial aspects of the world's cultural context for peace and harmony, Dr. Hailat highlighted that establishing global peace is a fundamental condition for the civilizational prosperity of humanity. It underscores the importance of fostering understanding and dialogue to achieve harmony among diverse religious communities. Dr. Hailat added, “The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution No. 65/5 issued on October 20, 2010, recognized that mutual understanding and dialogue between religions constitute important dimensions of world culture for peace and interfaith harmony. Thus, the World Week becomes a means to promote harmony among all people, regardless of their religion, and contribute to establishing peace, security, and prosperity for all without employing multiple standards, as the sanctity of 'humanity' and the preservation of its dignity, essence, nature, and rights are among the most important principles upheld and defended by religions.” These statements reflect the commitment of QU and its professors to promoting interfaith harmony, dialogue, and understanding as integral components of global peace and coexistence.