PrintReligion and Peacemaking
part of the Centers of Innovation
Supporting Religious Communities in the Work of Peacemaking
Center Highlights
USIP Press Release: Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam
Edited by Qamar-ul Huda, this volume examines the creative ways in which Muslims are engaging in Islamic peacemaking around the world while acknowledging the challenges Muslim peacebuilders face in mitigating violence and extremism.
In the Field: International Islamic Peace Education Workshop held in Davao City, Philippines
June 27-July 1, 2010
Qamar-ul Huda discusses the International Islamic Peace Education Workshop organized by the U.S. Institute of Peace in partnership with the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and Magbassa Kita Foundation Inc (MKFI).
Women, Religion, and Peace: Experience, Perspectives, and Policy Implications
July 2010
We are pleased to announce that the Berkley Center for Religion and World Affairs, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the World Faiths Development Dialogue partnered to convene a two-day symposium in July 2010 exploring the role of women in religious peacemaking around the world. Read the meeting highlights.
Online Course on Interfaith Conflict Resolution
USIP's Religion and Peacemaking program and the Education and Training Center/International program worked cooperatively to produce this online introductory course, which is available free of charge. This course is designed to enhance the peacemaking capacities of individuals and faith-based organizations by focusing on objectives, methods, and best practices of interfaith dialogue. The course applies these general principles to two case studies, highlighting interfaith peacemaking efforts between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, as well as the role that various faith communities played in helping to bring and end to the 36-year internal armed conflict in Guatemala. Take the course today
USIP won the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) "Best Practices Silver Award" for 2009, following the release of this online course. The award is given to organizations that have designed and delivered outstanding and comprehensive best practices in distance learning programming for an individual program or a series of programs.
Featured Publications & Tools
Crescent and Dove looks at the relationship between contemporary Islam and peacemaking by tackling the diverse interpretations, concepts, and problems in the field of Islamic peacemaking. It addresses both theory and practice by delving into the intellectual heritage of Islam to discuss historical examples of addressing conflict in Islam and exploring the practical challenges of contemporary peacemaking in Arab countries, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Leadership
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Senior Vice President, Center of Innovation and Religion and Peacemaking Center
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Center Experts
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Senior Program Officer, Religion and Peacemaking Center of Innovation
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Senior Program Officer, Religion and Peacemaking Center
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The Religion and Peacemaking program conducts research, identifies best practices, and develops new peacebuilding tools for religious leaders and organizations; helps define and shape the field of religious peacebuilding; and in cooperation with USIP's other Centers, develops and implements integrated strategies for the Institute's conflict-specific work, including projects with religious communities in zones of conflict.
Work in Zones of Conflict
- Pakistan - USIP is working with ulama and madrassa administrators in Pakistan to prepare teaching modules for madrassas on subjects relating to peace, tolerance, and pluralism.
- Afghanistan - Working with a local partner, USIP is building the conflict management skills of religious scholars in the Islamic tradition.
- Iran - As a means of promoting peace between our two countries and enhancing peacemaking skills, USIP is helping to organize exchanges between American Muslims and their Iranian counterparts.
- Iraq - USIP is working with the Council of Representatives' Religious Affairs Committee to support religious reconciliation and pluralism throughout Iraq.
- Colombia - To encourage ecumenical collaboration to broaden and strengthen religious peacemaking, we are working with Catholic and Protestant organizations to support the peace work of women.
- Sri Lanka - USIP is supporting efforts to train religious leadership from each of Sri Lanka's four main religious communities in conflict transformation theory, and to support their efforts in implementing local peace projects.
- Nigeria - For several years, USIP has supported the work of peacebuilders Imam Mohammed Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye as they seek to reduce violence and bridge Christian and Muslim communities in Nigeria. Most recently we have supported their reconciliation efforts in Jos, where Christian and Muslim communities have fought violently.
Explore
Islamic Peacemaking
In August 2006, USIP brought together Muslim scholars to discuss critical issues related to reform, conflict, peacemaking, and human rights. Papers written by this group of international Muslim scholars has been compiled into the book Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam, available from USIP Press. The book offers serious thinking on obstacles and opportunities in diverse Muslim attitudes toward and practices of peace and conflict management.
Religious Peacemaking in the Middle East
USIP press published a book entitled Unity in Diversity in 2007 by prominent Muslim scholar Mohammed Abu-Nimer (formerly a JR Senior Fellow). This book gives an overview on interfaith dialogue and religious peacemaking efforts in several Middle Eastern countries.
Religious Peacemaking in Africa: Film and Workshops
In collaboration with long-time partners at the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Nigeria, USIP supported the production of a documentary that highlights the religious peacemaking methodology of Pastor Wuye and Imam Ashafa. This documentary has formed the basis for workshops in countries throughout Africa to help develop strategic inter-religious peacemaking capacity.
Countering Violent Extremism: Scientific Methods and Strategies
A Multi-disciplinary Perspective White Paper-PAC
This intra-agency paper entitled “Countering Violent Extremism: Scientific Methods and Strategies” consisted of experts from Defense, State, USAID departments and agencies, and USIP. The comprehensive paper demonstrates that countering violent extremism requires a balanced approach between security-related strategies and initiatives and those that address the underlying motivations and causes for participation in, and support of violent extremism.
USIP’s Qamar-ul Huda, senior program officer in the Religion and Peacemaking Center, contributed to this paper by analyzing the importance of preventing radicalization, key identify markers which show drifting toward extremism, and the use of citizen messengers to challenge violent extremist with alternative narratives.