wfn.org | FEATURE: Religious Differences Should Not Be Emphasized

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

FEATURE: Religious Differences Should Not Be Emphasized
Mauritanian Dignitaries Stress Need for Tolerance

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania/GENEVA, 21 April 2005 (LWI) - Speaking serenely but
firmly, Sheikh Khalil Ould Cheikhny emphasized: "We need a reformation,
not fanaticism, to solve the problems in Africa." The Muslim dignitary was
speaking to an audience of 500 people seated inside a large Bedouin tent
discussing what interfaith dialogue entails, together with the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, and
members of his delegation.

Inside the tent sparsely lit with neon lights, oversized transparent
banners revealed the Muslim village community's willingness to be engaged
in open discussion. The declaration of the nearly 3,000 inhabitants of
Maata Moulana reads " Yes to Inter-Faith Cooperation toward Peace in
Africa and in the World." The settlement, a spiritual center which
attracts Qur'anic students from the whole of West Africa and many other
countries, is located 180 kilometers southeast of the Mauritanian capital
Nouakchott.

Sheikh Khaithy Ould Moma pointed out, "We wish to cooperate in order to be
able to live peacefully in Africa." The differences should not be
overemphasized, because Islam does not distinguish itself from Jesus
[Christ] and Mary [the mother of Jesus] all that much." As a proof of
Islamic tolerance in Mauritania, he referred to the fact that there is a
church located right opposite the mosque in Nouakchott, an opinion shared
by many of the sheikhs and imams present. In their statements, they all
stressed their willingness to be engaged in inter-religious dialogue
including a focus on the common origins and values of Islam and Christianity, and the tolerant approach of the Islamic religion in Mauritania.

Noko pointed out that Africa was going through a severe crisis, and
described the common fight against poverty, human rights issues, the role
of women in society, the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as resolving and
preventing conflicts as major concerns. He stressed the time had come for
religious leaders to seek common solutions to respond to the urgent need
for healing on the continent.

The general secretary hopes to see such support at the Second Inter-Faith
Action for Peace Summit in Africa to be held in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan
Municipality, near Johannesburg, South Africa April 2005. In Nouakchott,
when he met with 80 Muslim dignitaries, government and non-governmental
organizations' (NGOs) representatives and journalists, Noko spoke about
the need for interfaith dialogue in Africa. His February 22*26 visit was
to mark the 30th anniversary of the LWF Department for World Service (DWS)
presence in the northwestern African country.

The LWF has been active in Mauritania through the DWS program since
October 1974, following severe consequences of a prolonged drought that
started in the early 1970s. Although the field program initially focused
its work on disaster and emergency humanitarian assistance, its scope has
since expanded to include the promotion of an integrated community. There
are projects that help to mobilize and support local NGOs, increase
HIV/AIDS awareness, promote environmental protection, advocacy and human
rights related activities, gender issues, as well as support to rural
population groups living in abject poverty and other marginalized
communities.

Over 99 percent of the 2.8 million people in the Islamic Republic of
Mauritania are Muslims, with only a dwindling minority of Christians. Noko
described the several decades of close cooperation between the LWF and
Mauritanian government as a remarkable testimony that the Abrahamic
religions were able to work together in numerous areas in mutual respect
of each other, and on the basis of common values.
During a meeting with Mauritanian President, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya,
the LWF general secretary stressed the need for the kind of tolerance
practiced in Mauritania.	(690 words)

(By Dirk-Michael Groetzsch, LWI German editor, who was in Nouakchott for
the DWS Mauritania 30th anniversary celebrations.)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of
nearly 66 million Christians. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication,
and the various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat
is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless
specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or
opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an
article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced
with acknowledgment.]

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