Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Common Citizenship

[ xii ] — INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE FOR PEACE — our All-Holiness, Your Beatitudes, Your Virtue, Eminences, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentle- men — I am honoured to welcome you to the The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), as we gather here for the Second High Level Meeting to pro- mote peaceful coexistence and common citizenship around the world. Since its inception, KAICIID has taken a leading role as an advocate for religious and political leaders to work closely in finding common solutions to the challenge of violent extrem- ism. Having heard our recommendations, policymakers now recognize that to counter division, promote coexistence and foster the values of common citizenship they must include religious leaders as equal partners in that process. Poli- cymakers can benefit from the knowledge and grassroots influence of religious leaders such that both secular and reli- gious leaders find common ground in shared values. We must not fear religion, as it forms part of the solution to the problem of hatred. The root causes of violent extrem- ism can be more effectively removed when religion’s true intent is widely and correctly understood. Three years ago, we united here in Vienna, in solidarity, to preserve religious diversity and social cohesion in the region and to reject any attempt to manipulate religion to justify violence. Since then we have worked with religious leaders and communities to promote their capacity to build bridges of understanding and cooperation between them. In the face of crisis and loss, I have witnessed religious leaders’ courageous stand against prejudice and hatred. They have the power to engage the moderate majority of the faithful. Our mission is to enable that majority to take a step towards people of other religions and cultures in order to understand and respect the Other. Through dialogue, the international community and religious leaders have, over the past three years, established a best practice partnership between themselves and policy- makers to develop concrete and lasting solutions. Around the world, religious leaders are at the forefront of rebuilding coexistence between religious communities and helping to foster the value of shared citizenship. That vision of interre- ligious cooperation is KAICIID’s foundation. The Board of Directors convened here today includes renowned advocates for interreligious cooperation, repre- senting Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim communities. Also many members of the Advisory Council join us here today, comprising religious leaders and advo- cates representing diverse religions. The Centre receives vital support from its founding countries — the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Spain and the Holy See as a Interreligious dialogue for peace — promoting peaceful coexistence and common citizenship KAICIID Secretary General, HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar Y HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar KAICIID Secretary General HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar was appointed Secretary General of the Vienna-based International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) in October 2012. Prior to the appointment, he held a number of senior positions in the Saudi Arabian administration and with various nonprofit organizations. Among the highlights of a distinguished career, which has encompassed major roles in state government and international organizations, the Secretary General has served as Vice Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Adviser to the Royal Court of the then Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Deputy of the National Guard for Cultural and Educational Affairs. The Secretary General was instrumental in the foundation of the King Abdulaziz Public Library in 1987, and the King Abdulaziz Centre for National Dialogue in Riyadh (KACND) in 2003. He continues to work as Supervisor General of the Public Library as well as Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.