Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Common Citizenship

[ 45 ] — RELIGIOUS LEADERS’ PLATFORM — peoples. In the framework of countering extremist ideol- ogy, the Centre has named this conference Interreligious Dialogue for Peace: Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Common Citizenship. There is no doubt that the meetings of religious leaders and thinkers from different religions and cultures have contributed to spreading the culture of moderation and dialogue, which reflects positively on our people and soci- eties. We have the support of the voices of moderate people who recognise, but boldly reject, the logic of sectarian and religious conflicts and hatred. Instead, they call for the establishment of communities based on justice and equal- ity among all citizens. One way this can be done is by governments rethinking religious education curricula and amending textbooks to focus on issues of cultural and religious diversity, intellectual and religious freedom, freedom of belief, and human rights. We propose to our governments the establishment of religious institutes that are common to both Muslims and Christians, in order that religious students, overseen by sheikhs and priests, sit together; priests study the heav- enly religions together; and graduates of these schools are encouraged to preach the message of tolerance, brought by the apostles and prophets, in their communities. All of these things contribute effectively to the promotion of a culture of moderation and coexistence based on love, tolerance and mutual respect. The launching of KAICIID’s interreligious platform for dialogue and cooperation in the Arab World is an impor- tant step toward consolidating the values of dialogue and common citizenship that we need to confront the culture of extremism and terrorism. This calls for the selection of religious figures and institutions that do not constitute a religious cover for extremism in their countries. Some speak