Somalia religious leaders vowed to be of the same mind for Golden Rule Day.
The United Religions Initiative (URI) in the Horn of Africa Region organized a half-day event in Somalia for the occasion of the Golden Rule Celebration, as usual on Wednesday April 5, 2017, in cooperation with the center of Sheikh Adam Dhere Charity Association (SADCA), which is a URI Somalia Cooperation Circle member.
The occasion of the celebration of Golden Rule Day was started in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2007. It is now is growing fast. It was the first time such a celebration was scheduled in Somalia, due to the prolonged civil war and religiously-motivated violence that has been going on throughout the entire nation since 1991. The celebration inspired a new hope for peace.
More than 50 participants attended, including religious leaders, civil society members, women, students, and youth. Sheikh Abdirisak Sheikh Adam Dhere, who heads the SADCA, opened first and described the event: “When we think of peace, we think of a faith that brings comfort to all people around the world, so we have to endorse faith cooperation in order to bring peace here in Somalia. While billions of people find comfort and solace and peace due to that, we have the right to celebrate the Golden Rule Day together, and so agree our brothers and sisters of URI.”
“We kindly requested the URI community to help us while Somalians are under epidemic famine and prolonged conflict situation,” Sheikh Abdirisak Sheikh Adam Dhere added.
The event was widely watched and circulated. Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of United Religions Initiative for Africa & Global Envoy of URI, gave his remarks on the occasion of the celebration of the 2017 Golden Rule Day event in Somalia.
“As we are celebrating the International Golden Rule Day, I pray for the creator of the universe to open our hearts and minds to understand the uniqueness of each one of us and to pour out the spirit of unconditional love, compassion, and to understand and fully embrace the idea that, though we are people from different faiths, traditions, cultures and colors, we all are part of one human family with the common principle of the Golden Rule,” said Ambassador Mussie Hailu.
During the event, participants learned about the IGAD PCVE strategy books in order to train Somalia religious leaders and build their knowledge related to violent extremism. It was coordinated and moderated by Mr. Daud Abdi Daud, URI country coordinator, and the heads of URI Cooperation Circle SOMESHA.
Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Adam
SOMESHA, Media relations Officer
