IRRT Hosts Srinagar Multifaith Dialogue to Promote Mutual Understanding

Ziraat Times News Desk

SRINAGAR: A one-day Multifaith Dialogue Conference, organised by the Islamic Relief and Research Trust (IRRT) Kashmir, was held on Thursday at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, bringing together leaders and scholars from diverse faiths to promote peace, mutual understanding and respect among communities.

The conference, held on the eve of upcoming Hindu and Muslim festivals, was a follow-up to a similar event convened earlier on April 22 this year. It was presided over by Mirwaiz Central Kashmir, Syed Abdul Lateef, while the Mufti Azam of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, formally inaugurated the gathering.

In his welcome address, Advocate Abdul Rashid Hanjura, Chairman of IRRT Kashmir, urged all religious leaders to support this process “for achieving peace and common terms for society.”

Among the speakers who deliberated on the significance of interfaith dialogue were:

• Dr. Mazhar Hussain (COVA Network Hyderabad & Multifaith Partnership Network of India)

• Jagmohan Singh Raina (Chairman, Sikh Coordination Committee)

• Dr. Philip John (Christian priest)

• Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo (former Vice Chancellor, speaking online from the USA)

• Pastor Paul (Christian priest, Srinagar)

• Dr. Hameed Naseem Rafiabadi (Comparative Religion Studies scholar)

• Moulana Showkat Hussain Keng

• G.N. Var (President, Private Schools Association J&K)

• Javaid Abas Rizvi

• M.Y. Shaheen

• Nazim Nazir (journalist)

• Shaikh Firdose Ahmad (Chairman, Rehmatan lil Aalmeen Trust)

• Dr. Shagufta Rather (women’s activist)

• Towseef Ahmad Wani (Director, Syed Hussain Manteq Academy)

• Tasneem Ruhi (Mother Help Age UK)

• Tasneem Akhter

• Feroz Ahmad (Human Welfare Organisations Network)

• Aijaz Ahmad Kakroo (scholar)

• Fayaz Ahmad Andrabi (Jammu & Kashmir Civil Society)

• Manzoor Ahmed (Islamic scholar)

Speakers stressed the need to inculcate the values of dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect among school children to build strong human values and to root multifaith dialogue at the grassroots level.

The vote of thanks was presented by Shamshad Kralawari, broadcaster and General Secretary of IRRT Kashmir, while Dr. Wahid Raza conducted the proceedings.