Delegates in group picture at 2018 World Interfaith Harmony Week in Ethiopia.
Addis Abba – February 2, 2018 – Ethiopia has to share its longtime experience in religious and cultural harmony to the rest of the world, some participants of the World Interfaith Harmony Week observed.
More that 75 delegates attended the World Interfaith Harmony Week marked for the first time outside the United Nations (UN) Headquarters.
Delegates in group picture at 2018 World Interfaith Harmony Week in Ethiopia.
Some delegates told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that Ethiopia is an inspiration for the world in practicing interreligious peace and harmony in a country with people who have diverse religions and cultural practices.
Unity Earth in USA delegate, Yani Maniates said Ethiopia has a strong root in practicing Christianity and Islam religions in a peaceful and harmonious way.
“We are gathered here in Ethiopia to mark the World Interfaith Harmony Week because Ethiopia is a mother country of interfaith harmony”, he added.
According to Maniates, the world is not much aware that Ethiopia is unique in interfaith harmony and religious heritage that should be promoted continuously.
Ben Reisman, a delegate from Holland, said Ethiopia is the right place to get experience on religious and cultural harmony.
The famous St. Georges Cathedral in Lalibela, Ethiopia is hewn out of the earth.
Ethiopia is a beautiful country and you see how religions can work together, Reisman said, adding that, “I think Ethiopia is the right place to start giving attention to this idea. But after Ethiopia it should also go to other places in the world.”
U-Day delegate Alludin Offinger said that Ethiopia has a very strong tradition of practicing inter-religious harmony in a diverse community.
He stated that “Ethiopia is really at the top of the point that the religious and cultural harmony in supporting leaders to promote peace, harmony and diversity can inspire the rest of world.”
Inter- Religious Council of Ethiopia was awarded a prize for promoting tolerance, peace and co-existence among the people by United Religious Initiative-Africa.
The golden rule “treat others as you want to be treated” was the central idea of this year’s World Interfaith Harmony Day. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual UN Observance week from February 1-7.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan. Just under a month later, on October 20, 2010, it was unanimously adopted by the UN and henceforth the first week of February is observed as a World Interfaith Harmony Week.
