Promoting Peace and Tolerance through Madrasa Reform

Since 2003, the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy (ICRD) has been working with leaders of Pakistani madrasas (Islamic religious schools) to provide improved education and moral guidance for madrasa students. Specifically, the goals are to:

expand madrasa curriculums to include the scientific and social disciplines, with a special emphasis on religious tolerance and human rights (especially women's rights);
transform the pedagogy to promote critical thinking skills among the students;
teach students dialogue facilitation and conflict resolution skills; and
equip newly-trained teachers with the skills necessary to train other madrasa leaders in these same areas.

Two influential madrasa leaders who have taken a courageous leadership role in promoting peace and tolerance in Pakistani madrasas will speak about their efforts to secure a better future for the children of Pakistan and to enhance global peace and security. Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamosh, a prominent Wahhabi leader and Chairman of Muslim Christian Federation International, and Hafiz Khalil Ahmed, an influential Deobandi madrasa leader, will describe their work, in partnership with ICRD, to promote educational enhancement in Pakistani madrasas and faith-based reconciliation as a path to peace.

Speakers

Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamosh
Muslim Christian Federation International
Hafiz Khalil Ahmed
Deobandi Madrasa
Azhar Hussain
International Center for Religion and Diplomacy
Douglas Johnston, Discussant
International Center for Religion and Diplomacy
Qamar-ul Huda, Moderator
U.S. Institute of Peace

Archived Audio

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