From Kaduna to Baghdad and Khartoum

Kaduna. Baghdad. Khartoum. After receiving the Fondation Chirac Prize for Conflict Prevention on November 6, 2009, Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor Wuye continue their work with religious communities abroad. Distinguished by the Fondation for the exemplarity of their work with Muslim and Christian communities in Nigeria, they travelled to Iraq at the end of December and then on to Sudan at the beginning of January.

Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor Wuye left for Khartoum on January 8, 2010 and until January 24, 2010. At the behest of the Inter-Religious Council of Sudan, they hope to contribute to appeasing interfaith tensions. They travelled to Khartoum and the rest of the country to present the documentary of their efforts, le Pasteur et l’Imam (FLT Film). This provided them with the opportunity to talk with representatives of the government, religious leaders, community heads, and representatives of the national media. Sudan has an estimated population of 38 million inhabitants with a majority of Muslims (80%), as well as Christians (15%), and Animists (5%).

Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor Wuye had travelled to Baghdad from December 16 to 21, 2009, at the invitation of members of the Iraqi parliament. During their stay, they debated the role of religion in building peace and security. The projection of their documentary, Le Pasteur et l’Imam (FLT Film) allowed them to meet local mediators and to discuss conflict management training. Based on their field experience, the Imam and the Pastor led a study group of parliament members and field players to reflect on the stakes and the necessary methodology to build peace in the very particular context wherein multiple religious and ethnic groups live side by side.

The Iraqi population is estimated to be composed mostly of Arab people (75%), Kurds (20%), and Turkmen and Assyrians (5 %). Islam is the main religion, dominated by the Shi’as (65 %), followed by the Sunnis (32 % of the population), then the Christians and others (Yazidi, Mandaeans) 3 %.

Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor Wuye started as heads of rival religious militia engaged in conflicts in Nigeria. They then became militants of interfaith dialogue. In 1995, they created the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) in Kaduna state, in northern Nigeria. Ever since, they have been working to pacify their country and striving to spread their method of dialogue abroad.

The Interfaith Mediation Centre :

To know more on the trip to Sudan, click here

To know more on the Fondation Chirac Prize for Conflict Prevention