URI’s Multiregion organized the Alexandria lectures and other events in celebration of the International Day of Peace. The events included lectures, workshops and on-the-street events, and were conducted by local lecturers and peace activists.
In addition to interfaith dialogue, cultural diversity and tolerance, the lectures addressed the controversial anti-Islam film, The Innocence of Muslims, and the tension, protests and violence that followed its release.
“The debates showed a great amount of intellectualism, peace and refusal to accept violence as a means of protesting,” said URI Multiregional Coordinator Abdallah Hendawy. “The debates went far to emphasize the value of diversity and inter-culturality in societies seeking social security and stability.”
The URI Multiregion-organized events – which began Sept. 14 and concluded on Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace – ended with a ceremony at the Library of Alexandria. The event included a presentation by a United Nations representative and a concert by a local Alexandrian band.
The events were sponsored by the National Library of Egypt and AI Bookstores, and were held in conjunction with the International Day of Peace, an annual event celebrated by the United Nations and people throughout the world as a day of global ceasefire and nonviolence.
The theme of this year’s Peace Day was “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future,” in keeping with the recent United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More information about URI’s celebration of the International Day of Peace is available at uri.org.
