Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution | George Mason University

More than 120 Muslim leaders Commit to the Future of Afghanistan during International Conference in Turkey

CRDC — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:38:11 +0000

THE CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS

(29 NOVEMBER -2 DECEMBER IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY)

From Afghanistan and from around the globe, imams, civil society leaders, and world renown Islamic scholars have participated in “Islamic Cooperation for a Peaceful Future in Afghanistan,” an unprecedented gathering of over 120 imams and scholars, from all provinces of Afghanistan and every corner of the world, which took place in Istanbul, Turkey, November 30-December 2, 2011. The conference was a non-governmental forum with impartial views toward governments and opposition groups. Participants have joined with the Afghanistan Advisory Board of The Project for Islamic Cooperation for a Peaceful Future in Afghanistan, Marmara University, George Mason University, in the exploration of vital themes of peace for the future of Afghanistan.

Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an organization representing 57 nations around the world, expressed OIC’s commitment to a future peaceful Afghanistan during his important address to all in attendance. The conference opening was observed by senior Turkish officials, the United States President’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the most senior diplomats from Organization Islamic Conference (OIC) member states, including senior representatives from the embassies of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Turkey.

Prominent senior scholars of the Islamic world who addressed the conference participants included Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the Grand Muftis of Jordan, the Grand Mufiti of Bosnia and the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Dr. Usamah Al Abd, President of Al-Azhar University, Sheykh and Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, Kh. As’ad Said Ali, Vice Chairman of Nahdatul Ulama, Indonesia, Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada and many others listed below.

The Project’s goal is to provide much-needed forums and opportunities to help generate local, regional and international Islamic cooperation in support of peace in Afghanistan. At the heart of this process has been the meeting of world famous Islamic scholars with Afghan Imams from all over Afghanistan. The Afghan Imams and the global Islamic scholars have never had the chance to meet each other in the past and inspire each other.

Inspiring teachings, guidance, and models of peacemaking and peacebuilding on key issues of the conference were presented by these great scholars. There was a creative combination and alignment with Afghan cultural and Islamic values that for the first time in decades was presented independently to a global forum of Islamic scholars. Together, they have demonstrated extraordinary courage and brilliance in the peaceful leadership and guidance of Islamic civilization.

The following are the key conclusions of the conference:

1) The global Islamic scholars, Imams, and civil society representatives expressed their deep concerns about the use of religious interpretations, often misinterpretation, in justifying violence, particularly against civilians, religious leaders, places of worship, and cultural heritage in Afghanistan and beyond. Under the guidance and Islamic texts that were narrated in the conference the global Islamic scholars, Imams and civil society representatives made a plea to all side of the conflict in Afghanistan to prevent attacks and harms to civilians.

2.) The global Islamic scholars, Imams and civil society representatives articulated very clearly their commitment for a responsible and active participation in peacemaking and peacebuilding via dialogue and non-violence. They encouraged all sides of the conflict in Afghanistan to invest in peaceful settlement via negotiation.

3.) The global Islamic scholars, Imams, civil society representatives recognized that there have been mistakes and shortfalls in peacebuilding in Afghanistan, and they recognized legitimate grievances, including social justice issues, that need to be addressed peacefully, not via violence.

4.) The global Islamic scholars, Imams, and civil society representatives asked the Ulama and civil society within the OIC member states to take urgent steps toward supporting the peace process in Afghanistan. From this stand, they pleaded to the Ulama, Imams and civil society leaders in Afghanistan neighboring countries, particularly in Pakistan, to take more steps forward in support of peace process in Afghanistan.

5.) The global Islamic scholars, together with the Afghan Imams, civil society leaders and scholars, considered their gathering, discussion and commitment for peace and non-violence, as the establishment of a historically significant point of reference for Islamic teachings to moderation, tolerance, peace and cooperation that is urgently needed in Afghanistan.

6.) The alignment of global scholars via the cooperative effort established by this conference will give great strength to Afghan civil and spiritual leaders to advance the moral fiber of their communities. This will empower them to create a tolerant civic space wherein the Afghan people and their leaders can jointly march toward stability, peace and prosperity via local, regional and global cooperation and solidarity.

7.) The great global Islamic scholars have admired the courage and resilience of the Afghan civil and religious leaders standing for peace and justice for their people, giving them the advice necessary to further peace and prosperity for their communities. They offered the promise for greater Islamic cooperation for a future peaceful Afghanistan.

8.) The global Islamic scholars, Afghan imams and civil society representatives viewed the conference and the project as one of the most significant steps necessary for building peace and ending violence in Afghanistan. They jointly expressed their commitment to support the upcoming forums and workshops inside Afghanistan and beyond.

The conference, which launched a two year project inside Afghanistan, has created the needed space to connect Afghan Imams and civil society leaders with the broader global efforts, experiences and lessons learned toward achieving non-violence, uplifting the human condition, and offering social and moral support to ensure human dignity and just peace. This is essential at a time when stability in Afghanistan is prerequisite for regional prosperity, and this goal can be achieved only via a mutually respected alignment toward and investment in a shared vision for peace.

Years of violence and conflicts in Afghanistan left millions of people death and caused the spillover with significant reinforcement of violence, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan that caused more innocent people to be killed. Therefore, peacemaking and peacebuilding, as viewed by the global Islamic scholars, Imams and civil society representatives, is a civic duty and and Islamic obligation in support of the people of Afghanistan and their neighbors as they are moving toward ending the current conflict via negotiation and non-violence.

AFGHAN ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS:

Mawlavi Mostafa Barakzai, Member of the Ulema Council & Senior member of the Afghanistan Supreme Court
Mawlavi Shahzadeh Shahid, Member of the Parliament & member of the High Peace Council
Mawlawi Attaul Rahman Salim, Director of the Islamic Research Center and former Deputy Minister for Minister of Hajj and Endowment
Munir Morowat, Head of the Center for Interpretation and Hadith in the Academy of Sciences
Ghulam Dastagir Khawrin, Professor of Education, Kabul University.
Dr. Abdulbadeah Sayad, Professor of Sharia School of Kabul University
Mohammad Farid Hamidi, Commissioner, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
Mohammad Ashraf Rasuli, Senior Advisor to President Karzai
Mohammad Asif Mesbah, Islamic Scholar and Imam
Nafisa Kabuli, Member of Supreme Court and senior member of the Afghanistan Bar Association
Mohammad Omar Sharifi, Director for the Kabul office of American Institute for Afghanistan’s Studies
Dr. M. Saeed Niazi, Director at the Civil Society Development Center
Professor Neamatollah Nojumi, Senior Fellow at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution

GLOBAL ISLAMIC SCHOLARS WHO SPOKE AND STUDIED WITH THE AFGHAN IMAMS:

Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference
Dr. Usamah Al Abd, President of Al-Azhar University
Professor Mustafa Cagrici, the Great Mufti of Istanbul
Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, founder of Menhaj ul-Quran International.
Dr. Ahmad Khaled Babikr, Secretary General of International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Kh. As’ad Said Ali, Vice Chairman of Nahdatul Ulama, Indonesia.
Kyai Haji Yahya Cholil Staquf, Secretary to Supreme Council, Indonesia.
Dr. Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia.
Dr. Abdul Kareem Khasawneh, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Jordan
Maulana Mufti Muhammad Zahid, Sheikh ul-Hadith and Fiqh, Jamia Islami Imadia Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Sheykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, the world prominent Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi leader and the Founder of the Islamic Supreme Council of America.
Dr. Qamar Ghulam, Al Azhar University, Egypt.
Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada, Executive Director of Al-Karam Trust, the United Kingdom.
Professor Ali Bardakoglu, Former President, The Presidency of Religious Affairs, Republic of Turkey
Ms. Nazife Sisman, prominent writer, Istanbul, Turkey.
Prof. Mustafa Sinangolu, Mayis University, Turkey.
Prof. Recep Kaymakcan, Sakarya University, Turkey.
Prof Burhan Koroglu, Bacashir University, Turkey
Syed Tahir Saeed Kazmi, Chairman, Society for Education and Peace Building, and Project Director of Anwaar ul Uloom Islamic University, Multan, Pakistan

CONTRIBUTORS AND PARTNERS:

National Academy of Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Equality for Peace and Security, Afghanistan.
Sharia School at Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan.
High Peace Council, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Ministry of Hajj, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Center for Islamic Research, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Ministry of Information & Culture, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Kabul, Afghanistan.
The Institute for Middle East Studies, Marmara University, Istanbul Turkey.
The Center for World Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR), George Mason University.
The American Institute for Afghanistan Studies (AIAS), Kabul, Afghanistan.
Shaar Organisation for Research on Society.
Afghanistan Branch of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG).
Society for Education and Peace Building, Pakistan
World Organization for Resources, Development and Education (WORD).
Anwaar ul Uloom Islamic University, Multan, Pakistan
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Menhaj ul-Quran International
Al-Azhar University
OIC International Islamic Fiqh Academy
Nahdatul Ulama, Indonesia
Jamia Islami Imadia Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Islamic Supreme Council of America.
Jamia Al-Karam, United Kingdom.
Presidency of Religious Affairs, Turkey
Abdul Rahman, Jami University, Herat, Afghanistan.

Contacts:

Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University. crdc@gmu.edu +1 703-993-4473

Contact inside Afghanistan:

Dr. M. Saeed Niazi, Director at the Civil Society Development Center, Kabul Afghanistan

m_s_niazi@yahoo.com 0799020320

Welcome to CRDC

CRDC — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:19:16 +0000

CRDC equips policy makers, students, businesspeople and the general public with the tools they need to resolve conflicts where culture or religion play a significant role through research, training, consultation, education, conflict resolution analysis and practice

NEW COURSE WITH DR. MARC GOPIN AND AZIZ ABU SARAH IN EGYPT–DEADLINE TO APPLY DECEMBER 1st

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:07:43 +0000

Egypt: Lessons for Nonviolent Social Change from the Social Network Revolution (CONF 695/385)

The Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution

3 Credits March 9th-March 18th, 2012 Price: $4,500 (w/flight)

SPACE LIMITED!! APPLY NOW BY DECEMBER 1, 2011

Please Email the following items to Alex Cromwell at crdc@gmu.edu:

Your Resume
A Letter of Interest explaining: why the trip is important to you and your qualifications for participating in an advanced practice course in a conflict zone
Contact Information of Two References

Description: This course will address the lessons learned from the unique and unprecedented nature of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. These lessons entail an updated look at the power and importance of social networks and social media in the contemporary revolution, the crucial role of nonviolent resistance in its unique Middle Eastern expression, the central role of committed cores of activists, especially across class and religious and gender lines, in addition to what appear to be ‘leaderless’ movements. We will address the history of social and political change in modern Egypt, the history of nonviolent resistance, theories of nonviolent resistance and conflict resolution for Islamic socieities, the effect of outside actors and geopolitics on the course and direction of these movements, the state of interfaith relations in Egypt as it affects the course and direction of the revolution, the evolution of nonviolence and democratization in Islamist circles, and the ultimate question of where the revolution is going in terms of democracy and human rights.

The course will include lectures by Dr. Gopin, touring in Egypt with commentary and analysis by National Geographic Emerging Explorer Aziz Abu Sarah, interviews with a variety of actors in the revolution, and extensive formal and informal discussions.

This course will also involve the experience of people to people conflict resolution practice, including extensive engagement with Egyptian activists and average citizens.

NOTE: This class is for Ph.D. students, M.S. students, and undergraduate students. The Course fee covers 3 credits, airfare to Cairo and back, hotel fees for 8 nights, 2 meals per day, and other fees associated with the trip.

Questions? Please email Alex Cromwell at crdc@gmu.edu or call 703-993-4473

Aziz Abu Sarah Named National Geographic Emerging Explorer

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:06:21 +0000

“Walls that separate people are often built on ignorance, hatred, and fear. I try to put cracks in those walls. When people realize they feel the same pain, they begin to see how much we all have in common.”

In a place where struggles over land have fueled hatred and distrust for centuries, Aziz Abu Sarah is finding common ground. His effort to build relationships, not walls, amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is especially amazing in light of his own past.

Abu Sarah’s childhood as a Palestinian boy in Jerusalem was shattered when his brother was imprisoned, tortured, and killed. “I was so bitter and angry all I could think about was revenge,” he remembers. His teen years were spent in the resistance movement—writing inflammatory articles, organizing demonstrations, spreading hate, and opposing the peace process. Although Hebrew was mandatory in his school, he considered it the language of the “enemy” and refused to learn a single word. But after graduating high school, he realized Hebrew would be essential to entering a university or landing a good job in Jerusalem.

Necessity brought him into a Hebrew class for Jewish newcomers to Israel. “I was the only Palestinian in the class,” he recalls. “These were the first Jewish people I had ever met besides soldiers with guns at checkpoints. Suddenly I was being welcomed, developing friendships, and hearing stories from people I had called enemies all my life. When I saw they were ordinary human beings just like me I realized I had a choice. I could remain a victim, controlled by the person who killed my brother, or I could take a different, harder path and overcome my rage. It’s a decision I have to make again every day, do I want to keep transforming—or not?”

Based on his own transformative experience, Abu Sarah dedicates his life to using personal stories and cross-cultural learning to forge unprecedented understanding and positive social change at a people-to-people level. “Meeting Jews for the first time challenged everything I believed; now I use that as a framework to help people question what they think and see how complex the ‘other’ actually is.”

His tactics are as diverse as the religious, political, and social groups he works to bring together. Abu Sarah blogs, creates podcasts, pens editorials for Palestinian and Israeli newspapers, teams up with an Israeli as a radio show co-host, lectures at international organizations and universities worldwide, works with a joint group of Israeli-Palestinian parents who have lost children to the conflict, and is authoring a book with a Jewish friend.

A walking embodiment of the reconciliation he strives to achieve, Abu Sarah is a Muslim who works closely with rabbis and Christian groups and speaks Arabic, Hebrew, and English. “My goal isn’t to come in to a group of students or soldiers and say here’s my political view, you should think like me. I simply expose them to thoughts they’ve never heard before. Pain is very powerful, very destructive. But it can also be constructive. If you open up and listen to the other side’s suffering you don’t have to agree with their actions, but you can understand where they’re coming from.”

In the U.S. he is co-executive director of George Mason University’s Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (the oldest conflict resolution school in the world). There he builds alliances between Jewish and Arab Americans and has launched a unique study-abroad program bringing students to the Middle East and beyond. “Speakers and excursions delve into the true complexity of the situation here. We include every point of view—Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim, secular, left-wing, right-wing, historical, cultural, environmental. This multi-narrative presentation of ideas is essential to seeing how you can work with very different mindsets toward conflict resolution.”

Abu Sarah uses the same concept to create a new model of tourism. His rapidly growing Mejdi tour company has brought thousands of people to the region on trips that highlight diversity. “If you travel here with only one guide,” Abu Sarah notes, “you are limited to one point of view. That’s why we always try to have at least two guides, one Israeli and one Palestinian, plus many local guides all along the way. Whether you explore history, archaeology, or the environment you need all points of view or you’ll go home with a distorted, one-dimensional picture.” The multicultural spirit of the tours is reflected in the people who participate—Jewish congregations, seminary groups, Imams, rabbis, ministers, and students from around the world.

Abu Sarah’s passion for peace bears practical fruit: students inspired to cancel tickets home to stay and intern with peace organizations, synagogue groups compelled to share their experiences with churches and mosques, travelers motivated to help build the struggling economy by connecting with local Israeli-Palestinian businesses, the brother of a suicide bomber reaching out to the father of a victim to apologize and say he didn’t find the act heroic, an Israeli teenager determined to join the army and kill Palestinians and now rethinking his decision.

“When I see lives like this being saved from the cycle of violence and revenge it makes it all worth it. Maybe I can’t change things politically, but I can change people. And my small changes can make a difference in when this conflict will end. The more I do today, the faster peace will come.”

Originally published at: http://www.nationalgeographic.com

On March 11, 2011, the worst earthquake in Japan’s recorded history triggered a deadly Tsunami resulting in wide-spread suffering, destruction and loss of life.

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:05:28 +0000

As of May 24^th, it was estimated that 15,000 people perished and about 10,000 went missing. The highest death toll was in the Miyagi Prefecture with an estimated death toll of 10,000 dead and 5,000 recorded as missing. Over 60,000 houses were totally destroyed and 31,000 evacuated. One of Miyagi’s elementary school lost 70% of its students. Tens of thousands of people lost their jobs after major industries like rice field agriculture, forestry and fishering accumulated losses surpassing 930 billion yen.

We at CRDC were shocked and saddened by this tragedy. We immediately asked ourselves, “What can we do?”

CRDC stands for a deep embrace of suffering people who are engaged in a struggle for healing in the midst of troubles. We embrace in particular cultural and religious values that are brought to bear on difficult situations where sorrow and pain are present and a path of intervention is necessary that builds harmony and fairness. We search for authentic partners on the ground who embody in their work the values of compassion, justice, and peace.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, we decided to partner with former CRDC intern, S-CAR graduate and Japanese citizen, Mutsuko Sugita to find a way to help. Mutsuko, who comes from a long line of Japanese Buddhist Priests, identified an extraordinary partner for CRDC, the Miyagi division of Jodo Shu Buddhism under the leadership of the Senior Priest Zuiki Nakamura. Mutsuko’s brother, Priest Zendo, was one of the early volunteer responders in Miyagi Prefecture. Through his work as a volunteer, Mutsuko learned about humbling efforts of Priest Zuiki and the other Priests and volunteers. We at CRDC were so inspired by their work that we decided to partner with them in their noble cause.

Now YOU Can Help Local Buddhist Priests Rebuild and Heal the Most Devastated Community in Japan.

We kindly ask you consider a modest monthly donation of $5, $10 or $25

How will YOUR donation make a difference?

The following examples are ways in which the Miyagi division is actively responding to the needs of the diaster struct community. Your donation will go directly to support these activities and others that Priest Zuiki, other priests and their volunteers identify as necessary in the recovery process.

Short-term emergency response activities:

Memorial Services

Relief Supply Distribution

Counseling rooms at the places of mourning

Clean up

Mid to long-term recovery activities:

Temporary Housing

Psychological support for children, elderly, and the disabled

Cultural and entertainment activities

Click here for a detailed description of the activities

—

Questions? Contact the Director of this project, Ms. Mutsuko Sugita at mutsukosugita@gmail.com

SAVING SYRIA— A STRATEGY FOR PEACEFUL CHANGE

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:04:54 +0000

By Hind Kabawat, Senior Research and Expert in Conflict Resolution, CRDC

Damascus, Syria

May 20, 2011

Can our beloved Syria be saved from the brink of destruction? This is clearly the question on the minds of millions of our fellow countrymen (and countrywomen). And it is truly astonishing how quickly events have transformed the so-called “facts on the ground” in this country. One of the most locked-down societies in the Middle East quite suddenly erupted in rage, anger and frustration after forty years of political repression and economic stagnation. Just think of it: the first demonstration was on March 15, just a mere two months ago. But so much has changed in the minds, hearts and aspirations of the Syrian people that it is impossible to think that we can ever return to the status quo ante—the Syria of March 14^th.

What the future will bring is hard to predict. But what everyone must understand, beginning with our President Bashar al-Assad, is there is no going back to “business-as-usual.” He, and his government, have to decide whether they want to be “partners” with the Syrian people in forging a new more open, more democratic, more accountable and transparent society, or whether they want to attempt to violently abort the overwhelming desire of the vast majority of the Syrian people for change—real change. That is the first question that has to be answered.

It is my sense that the vast “silent” majority of the Syrian people, including myself, would prefer that the President be such a “partner” in the transformation of our country, and we all believe in him. This is true, I believe, even after the events of the last few weeks—when state security forces unleashed terrible violence on the civilian population of this country, which was wrong as our President indicates. President Bashar al-Assad still retains the confidence and affection of vast sections of the public. I believe he still retains such trust, in many ways, for very practical and pragmatic reasons.

Most Syrians still believe that real political, social and economic change can be achieved much more peacefully, and with less social dislocation, if the President spearheads the reform process. Clearly all of us have seen what happens when political and social transformation comes as a consequence of violent “regime change”—to wit, Iraq, Libya, etc. But real change that is peaceful can only happen if the President and the Baath party want to be part of the solution to Syria’s problems—not part of the problem. And so far it is not clear that the President and his inner circle grasp the magnitude of what is happening on the Syrian street.

But let’s say the government does opt for the right course of action, what next? Well, initially, the government’s response to the protest movement seemed to bode well: the Emergency Law was lifted, the Prime Minister was sacked, and political prisoners were released. But then the government clearly panicked, and the “Iron fist” of the regime was again used against the people.

Such violence and intimidation may work, in the short term, but in the long term it will have disastrous consequences for Syria, most importantly but also for the President, and the apparatchiks of the government militias, and the Baath Party. The international community no longer tolerates the flagrant abuse of human rights and crimes against humanity.

So let’s unclench the iron fist, summon the militias back to their barracks, command the security to hold their fire, and begin to engage in a true national dialogue. There has been much talk, from all sides, about the importance of holding a national dialogue, of resolving conflicts, peacefully, but let us be frank, such words have mostly been hollow. In essence the government’s real strategy has been to ride out the protest movement by doing what this regime has always done: confront any opposition with intimidation and violence. And, perhaps with reason, many in the protest movement have determined there is no point engaging in dialogue with the Assad government. Perhaps each side has lost complete confidence in the other’s good faith. If that stalemate is to end, some measure of trust must be restored.

What can the government do? Well, I think the time has come and gone for false starts—and empty promises. If the government is going to restore any measure of trust with the Syrian people, they must outline a plan—a road map—for real political change.

For starters, most Syrians believe political reform is as important as economic reform. Then action must be taken quickly to open the political process to new political parties and permit the emergence of a vibrant civil society by actively encouraging the development of non-governmental organizations. All such initiatives and actions will help lay the groundwork for a “Constitutional Convention,” where all the major actors in this country’s political, social and economic infrastructure come together to write a new democratic constitution for this country. Clearly, the old rules don’t work, new ones must be written.

In due course, the President with other candidates will run for the presidency. Most probably our President will win and will be elected in free, open and transparent elections, so that Syria has a government and a political administration that freely expresses the will of the Syrian people.

Does this seem like an ambitious agenda? Maybe. But what is the alternative? Throwing good time after bad? More years of political repression, with a government enforcing its will by violence, coercion, intimidation and worse? As the historic Arab Spring of 2011 clearly demonstrates, the Arab people have crossed a serious political and cultural threshold. They want something different: governments which are accountable, an economy which delivers jobs and prosperity, and a society where people prosper on their merits, not because of whom they know in high places. Corruption must end; it is literally choking this country’s economy, undermining its future, and the well being of the next generation.

Can Syria, and the Syrian people, deliver on such an “agenda for change”? I passionately believe they can. This country has endured much hardship over the last four decades. But other countries, which have endured far worse, have transformed themselves for the better.

Think of South Africa. When the Apartheid regime ended, many expected a race war between whites and blacks, with much murder and mayhem. But South Africa was blessed with the leadership of a great man in the form of Nelson Mandela. Instead of engaging in revenge and retaliation against his former enemies and tormentors, he extended an olive branch and established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Quite amazingly, South Africa replaced a brutal, repressive and racist regime with a democratic one—with relative ease. If they can do it, why can’t we? The divisions in South African society—between blacks and white, Anglos and Boers, the Zulus and the other tribes—were arguably more profound than those in Syria. But Mandela knew that the first order of business was FORGIVENESS. No change would succeed without it. And, more importantly, Nelson Mandela believed that he could accomplish his historic and very difficult task as the first truly democratic president of his country. Could President Bashar al-Assad be Syria’s Nelson Mandela?

I still believe in my President and his profound love of Syria, and my answer will be, Yes he can.

I

MASON CENTER WORKS TOWARD A PEACEFUL FUTURE

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:04:24 +0000

Publication: University News: George Mason University

Published Date: April 18, 2011

By James Grief

The Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at Mason’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution is paying close attention to the revolutions and protests that are affecting many countries in the Middle East.

Led by Mason professor Marc Gopin, an ordained Rabbi with a PhD in religious ethics, the center works on promoting social networks of peace builders in conflict areas around the world.

In countries such as Syria and Saudi Arabia where protests have not turned into a full revolution, Gopin has advice for the leadership and protesters: “The lines of communication can remain open as long as conflicts are nonviolent. Violence shuts down all listening.”

“What we learned from the protests is that governments need to engage with their citizens,” says Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian peace activist who joined the center as director of Middle East projects in 2009. “You don’t need a revolution in order to make change. This is where citizen engagement can help.”

Established in 2003, CRDC conducts research and educates concerning conflicts where religion and culture play a significant role in both conflict and peace building. The center engages its students and researchers in what Gopin calls “citizen diplomacy,” or constructive dialogue, with officials and citizens in conflict regions in order to understand different perspectives on an issue. The goal of this work is to resolve conflicts or build confidence for future discussions. To Gopin and his team at CRDC, there is no more important time for this engagement than right now.

“Citizen engagement and diplomacy is designed to minimize the likelihood of violence in a particular situation. Every message either reinforces enemy systems or begins to break them down,” says Gopin.

Earlier this month, Gopin participated in a panel discussion about the role of social media in the revolutions in the Middle East. The discussion was held at Mason in conjunction with the Communication Department and Al-Jazeera English.

“How do you take good motivations from a conflict resolution perspective and move them to something that is truly effective? At CRDC, we are doing a great deal of thinking about messaging around this topic,” Gopin remarked at the event.

Gopin and Abu Sarah’s partners in peace at the center include office manager Nawal Rajeh, managing director Scott Cooper and Hind Kabawat, director of CRDC-Damascus, Syria. In addition to aiding in research, teaching and training, the group handles the often complicated logistics of conducting CRDC’s overseas seminars.

“CRDC aims to bring more depth and nuance into discussions about complex conflicts. In an increasingly connected world, it is important that everyone has a deeper understanding about people from cultures other than their own. My hope is this understanding will result in less polarizing rhetoric and physical violence,” says Cooper.

Another important component to the center’s work is reaching policy makers and the general public through the media. Gopin, Cooper and Abu Sarah are active in traditional and social media, appearing on television and writing columns, blogs and opinion pieces.

“Media guided by a good relationship with conflict analysts can help cut through rhetoric and rumor to get to the real heart of the issues,” says Gopin.

Adds Abu Sarah, “Tolerance of other views is very important, and sometimes we only hear one side or the other. I hope we bring a sense of understanding that there are many things to consider when reporting on a conflict.”

Although the center has been successful in communicating its position to international media such as Al-Jazeera, Russia Today, Jerusalem Post and local media such as News Channel 8 and Fox 5 News in the Washington, D.C., area, Gopin expresses frustration that the American media tends to ignore peace-building efforts.

“There are hundreds of organizations like ours that focus on peace building in the Middle East, but none of that gets covered widely by the media. Unless there is a dramatic scene of some sort, the media is disinterested and focused more on violence.”

Both Abu Sarah and Gopin point to the social networks as a reason that Egypt and Tunisia have had successful and mostly peaceful revolutions.

“In those cases, it was important and significant that the citizens created a wide social network of people that are willing to participate in peaceful engagement and made space for free communication,” says Abu Sarah. “People do matter and can make a difference. It only took less than a month of peaceful protests to drive one of the most notorious dictators [Hosni Mubarak] out of power in Egypt.”

In cooperation with Mason’s Center for Field Studies, CRDC conducts overseas experiential learning seminars for students. After conducting successful trips to Syria, Israel and Palestine over the last two years, the center is planning to offer seminars in Liberia, Cyprus, the Philippines and the Balkans.

The trips to Syria have resulted in meetings with some of the most influential figures in the country, including Asma al-Assad, first lady of Syria; Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, grand mufti of Syria; Wael Mua’lla, president of Damascus University; Abdullah Dardari, Syria’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs; and Robert Ford, U.S. ambassador to Syria.

“We look at CRDC as a voice of civil society and an interfaith bridge to the West. When we started building that bridge, it gave us the credibility to secure high-level meetings,” says Gopin.

“We are very proud of our efforts in Syria in breaking down the barriers and being able to listen and speak directly with citizens and leaders at a time when violence and hostility with Israel and the United States was very high,” he adds.

Gopin says that the center’s activities In Syria have contributed to discussions in the U.S. Department of State promoting diplomatic engagement. In addition to Syria, CRDC also has strong networks in Israel and Palestine, Jordan, Turkey and the Caucasus region of Europe and Asia.

This year, CRDC also helped to organize the Interfaith Peace and Justice Initiative of Greater Washington, a coalition of Christian, Islamic and Jewish clergy in the Washington, D.C., region. The group recently toured Israel and Palestine as part of an effort to connect with groups that seek peaceful solutions to conflicts in the region.

On Sunday, June 5, at 1 p.m., the initiative is hosting a community discussion, “Peace and Understanding Between Jews, Christians and Muslims: Where Does Humanity Lie?” at the Oak Brook Church in Reston, Va.

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Photo #1: Marc Gopin, director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC). Creative Services photo

Photo #2: CRDC Managing Director Scott Cooper, left, and Director of Middle East Projects Aziz Abu Sarah. Photo by James Greif

CRDC Coordinates Historic Meeting Between King Abdullah II and 100 American Rabbis

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:03:50 +0000

In the most powerful interfaith accomplishment to date with a head of state, Dr. Marc Gopin and CRDC, in conjunction with CRDC Board Member Dr. Robert Eisen of George Washington University and Prince Ghazi of Jordan created an unprecedented evening of reconciliation between King Abdullah of Jordan and almost 100 Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist rabbis from through the United States. King Abdullah’s speech reached the hearts of many rabbis, as they then incorporated his inspiring words into their High Holiday sermons. This is essential to CRDC’s approach of combining peace work, and high-level influence on interfaith relations globally.

Director of Middle East Projects, Aziz Abu Sarah on Practical Solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:03:20 +0000

CRDC Senior Research Associate Hind Kabawat orchestrates unprecedented event with CRDC Director Rabbi/Dr. Marc Gopin at Assad library in Damascus

CRDC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:01:42 +0000

Here is the actual footage of one of our most inspiring acts of citizen diplomacy. It was the first public dialogue in Syria on peace in the Middle East in over forty years. This historic event was broadcast on the major TV outlets of Syria, as well as throughout the Arab world through Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya. It is a true testament to what a unique pair of committed peacemakers, Arab and Jewish, can do with perseverance, care and, of course, a little bit of risk. Watch the encouraging event here. Learn more about seven years of Syrian work in Dr. Gopin’s new book, To Make the Earth Whole: The Art of Citizen Diplomacy in an Age of Religious Militancy