Can Religious Leaders Contribute to Middle East Peace?

Islamic State used religion to justify the attacks in Paris, trumpeting in a statement that Allah had helped them in the series of concerted attacks that killed at least 127 people.

 

“In a blessed attack for which Allah facilitated the causes for success, a faithful group of the soldiers of the Caliphate, may Allah dignify it and make it victorious, launched out, targeting the capital of prostitution and obscenity, the carrier of the banner of the Cross in Europe, Paris,” the statement read.

 

Several NGOs in the Middle East, however, say that religion can play a positive role finding ways to share holy sites. Search for Common Ground, an organization which aims to “use innovative tools to end violent conflict around the world” has partnered with three other NGO’s, the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, One World in Dialogue and Religions for Peace, to put together a “Universal Code of Conduct on Holy Sites” that has been signed by dozens of religious leaders and is being supported by governments including Norway, Indonesia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 

Read More: Can Religious Leaders Contribute to Middle East Peace? – The Media Line.