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The World Interfaith Harmony Week is a worldwide initiative created to foster harmony between both, people of the same faith and those of different faiths

Proposed in 2010 by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, the World Interfaith Harmony Week will fall on the first week of February of every year with the aim of promoting harmony between all people regardless of their faith.

Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 speech during his visit to the King Hussein Mosque in Jordan has been a major starting point for dialogue and worldwide coordination between leaders and scholars of the Muslim and Christian communities.

It has also led to historic meetings (such as the first delegation of Muslims to meet the pope at the Vatican), conferences, and ongoing dialogues.

In 2010, HM King Abdullah II addressed the 65th UN General Assembly and proposed the idea of a ‘World Interfaith Harmony Week’ to further broaden his goals of faith-driven world harmony. This, he hoped to achieve, by extending his call beyond the Muslim and Christian communities to include people of all beliefs, as well as those with no set religious beliefs.

A few weeks later, HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad presented the proposal to the United Nations General Assembly, where it was adopted unanimously as a UN Observance Event.

The World Interfaith Harmony Week is a call to respect the differences and personal beliefs of others, and to unite around the basic principles that people of all beliefs agree upon.

As with the International Day of Peace, Interfaith Harmony Week will be an opportunity for like-minded organizations around the world to organize events and promote and celebrate interfaith peace and understanding.

Amongst the confirmed events is a gathering in Russia that will bring together youth activists, scientists, religious scholars, NGO activists, and Buddhist monks to discuss universal spiritual values and ongoing interreligious projects.

Harmony Trip, another confirmed event, plans to take orphanages and needy children from care homes across Jordan, both Christians and Muslims, to visit the Baptism Site and the Tombs of Prophet Mohammad’s companions in the Jordan Valley.

Indonesia is also participating through the Inter Religious Council (IRC), who is organizing a large celebration expected to pull at least 10,000 people from all faiths.

Everyone is encouraged to participate by holding or joining a community event.

More information can be found on www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com

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