UNESCO Research Chair of Interfaith Dialogue, attributed research chair with Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, has launched lastly a discussion panel entitled “Elites Role in Dissemination and Promotion of Interfaith Dialogue Initiative” at the rounding hall of Conference Bldg of the university.
Commenced the session, Dr. Abdullah al-Refai, Dean of College of Media and Communication, and who doubles as Principal of UNESCO Research Chair, has gave a word where he clarified that the research chair have a vision basing on Saudi Arabian Kingdom initiative of interfaith dialogue, which resulted in establishing King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue at Vienna, Austria.
Dr. Al-Refai has gave a question if after ten years of launching the interfaith dialogue the dialogue has prevails on earth. “Cultural, Academia, political and sport elites have a positive impact on community and a key role to play, that’s why UNESCO Research Chair has targeted, through arranging the discussion panel, to focus on the expecting roles of them”, said he. He further pointed out that, challenges that threaten world peace still huge, as disesteem of religious and cultures continues.
On the corrective steps, as Dr. Al-Refai expects, is to put the roles of elite persons on its right way, and community individuals will then interactive positively with peace and stability, as Islamic Sharia has prescribed through its terms. “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia adopts the concept of communal dialogue as it often witnesses permanent stability and tranquillity, despite its cultural diversity. That clearly appears in the first televised speech of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques”, pointed out he.
It is worth to mention that, the discussion panel that was consisted of two sessions, a number of work papers had discoursed by participants.