ABU DHABI // Islam’s message of peace and tolerance will be spread to Muslim nations and around the world by youth ambassadors as part of a project to tackle extremism among youngsters announced by religious authorities.
The Vision project will send youngsters who have demonstrated a deep understanding of their religion and leadership skills to their home countries or abroad to promote peace among their compatriots, said Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, president of the Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies Forum.
The forum has high hopes for the project, which is being run with the UAE’s Islamic Affairs Authority (Awqaf) as it was felt the ambassadors would be able to reach and interact with people of the same age more easily, while those who have been exposed to extremism or radicalisation are more likely to raise questions and concerns with their peers.
“We will not exaggerate and say we will change the world and pull the weapons away [from terrorists], but we are working on fighting the disease of radicalisation,” said Sheikh bin Bayyah. “Wars starts in minds, so we have to treat this disease by reaching out to all minds.”
The first phase of the project is due to begin later this year with an initial batch of 50 young ambassadors of all nationalities. That number is expected to increase to 150 by 2020.
The ambassadors will be trained to identify psychological, social and educational issues that allow the growth of radicalisation as well as developing problem-solving, decision-making and life-management skills to best protect themselves and their peers against the messages and tactics extremist groups use to lure youngsters.
Officials at the forum will look to recruit outstanding university students as ambassadors. The process will involve the youngsters submitting essays about the different ways to promote peace as well as sessions on intellectual and creative thought.
The activities carried out by the ambassadors will be evaluated by a committee from the forum after a year.
Now is the time for religious leaders in the Muslim world to work with allies from other religions to spread peace, said Sheikh bin Bayyah, adding the UAE is the perfect launch pad for this project because of its pragmatic and tolerant approach.
“Islamophobia is growing, but will we look at it as a crisis or an opportunity?” said Sheikh bin Bayyah, who recently invited to Washington DC to address the US congress.
“It was a chance for us to present ourselves as peace callers and to invite others to join us. The Forum became well known and we have formed some allies, including Anglicans.”
During his visit, the issue of the recent travel ban on people from seven Muslim countries came up, and while the forum does not interfere in political decisions, Sheikh bin Bayyah stressed that only those who have committed a crime should stand accused, and not an entire nation.
“This is a Quranic and Biblical principle,” he said, adding that the forum will continue to spread its message and vision of peace.
hdajani@thenational.ae
