21 March 2012

Prince Ghazi bin Mohammad offers condolences on the death of Pope Shenouda

Prince Ghazi bin Mohammad, Senior Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II for Religious Affairs, represented His Majesty on a visit to Egypt to offer his condolences to the leaders of the Coptic Church on the occasion of the laying to rest of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

This he did during his visit to the headquarters of the Cathedral of St Mark in Cairo yesterday, at the head of an official delegation which included: Dr Abdul Salam Abbadi, the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Dr Abdul Karim, the Grand Mufti of Jordan and Father Nabil Haddad, the Director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center. The delegation paid their condolences at the cathedral along with the Jordanian Ambassador in Cairo, Bishr Khasawneh.

He said during his visit: “I offer the condolences and sympathy of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Jordanian people to Egypt and its people, our brothers, in all walks of life, at the death of Pope Shenouda. He devoted his life to the service of his country and his nation. He was an influential figure with a vision, supported by the values of tolerance, dialogue and the promotion of human rights, and defending peace, freedom and love.”

For their part, the leaders of the Coptic Church expressed great thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Jordanian people for this gesture, which reflects the fact that Jordan is at the head of efforts for interfaith coexistence in the region and a leader in facing national issues throughout the Middle East.

His Majesty the King made a personal telephone call to Field Marshall Mohammad Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian armed forces, and sent a telegram offering his condolences for the death of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III.

   

11 March 2012

His Majesty King Abdullah II on Sunday welcomed Maronite Patriarch Mar Bishara Boutros al-Rai, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and emphasised the strong bonds between Jordan and Lebanon and the need to further boost relations.

The King said Arab Christians are a genuine part of Arab-Islamic civilization, adding "we should all work together to boost Christian presence and curb their migration, particularly from Palestine and other Arab countries witnessing instability." His Majesty and the head of the Maronite Catholic church called for maximizing the values of tolerance, dialogue and understanding among adherents of various faiths "in a manner to enhance global peace and stability." Patriarch al-Rai, on his first visit to Jordan since he took over after the resignation of his predecessor Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir in March, 2011, commended Jordan's firm support of Lebanon's unity and sovereignty.

He conveyed to the King the wishes of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and praised the spirit of tolerance and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Jordan.

The patriarch said the "Jordanian spring" is a role model in the region, adding that Jordan, under King Abdullah, had become a symbol of progress and prosperity, and expressing regret for the violence taking place in some Arab countries.

Speaking to reporters after the encounter, the patriarch pointed to the model pluralism and Muslim-Christian coexistence in the Kingdom. He noted the Kingdom's donation of a plot of land to build a Maronite church in Amman and the King's donation of another plot of land at the Jordan Valley Baptism Site, where the cornerstone had been laid for the Mar Maroon Church.

JICRC Statement

February 2012

JICRC Program - World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012

 

JICRC Program - World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 . ...More

29 January 2012

Father Haddad, Executive Director of JICRC in an interview with Petra News Agency

 

The Jordanians are at the forefront of efforts to spread the message of religious coexistence and harmony, stated Father Nabil Haddad, Executive Director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center.

In an interview with Petraabout-person1-thumb.jpg News Agency on Sunday, just days before the national celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, he urged Jordanians to ignore, as always, the increasing number of radical teachings, instead calling on Amman, in its capacity as the starting point of harmony between religions, to continue this peaceful religious dialogue during the upcoming World Interfaith Harmony Week, the objective of which is to spread the values of love, justice and respect for others. And the fact that this initiative came from our country, highlights Amman, Jordan as a model of religious harmony, which embraces the minarets of mosques and the bell towers of churches in an image of tolerance and harmony. ...More

2 August 2011

Clerics urged to highlight Baptism Site authenticity
By Rand Dalgamouni

 

BAPTISM SITE - A senior official on Monday called on Christian leaders to help establish beyond doubt that the Kingdom hosts the holy site where Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist.

"We request that your beatitudes help us in highlighting the historical facts in the Bible about Jesus Christ's Baptism Site," Minister of Culture Jeryes Samawi asked Orthodox patriarchs at a conference yesterday.

Father Nabil Haddad, president of the Jordan Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre, said all Christian religious leaders consider Jordan's Baptism Site the actual place where Christ was baptised, which affirms its authenticity and refutes all Israeli allegations that claim otherwise. ...More

5 July 2011

Religious leaders support battle against human trafficking
By Hani Hazaimeh

 

AMMAN - Religious leaders are going to join the battle against human trafficking by highlighting the negative impact of this crime on society during their sermons.

Interfaith specialists and clerics participating in a workshop on human trafficking yesterday pointed out that both Islam and Christianity emphasise the importance of respecting human rights and dignity.

Father Nabil Haddad, president of the Jordan Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre, told The Jordan Times that all religions underscore respect for human dignity and no one has the right to exploit or take advantage of others to make a profit at the expense of human rights. ...More

6 July 2011

Jordan peacemaking efforts highlighted

 

Executive Director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center (JICRC) Father Nabil Haddad recently highlighted the Hashemite initiatives and Kingdom's efforts to enhance international peace and security.

Haddad made the remarks during his participation in an international seminar organized by the Jordanian Consulate in Scotland in cooperation with Jordan Tourism Board. He highlighted coexistence in Jordan and its role as a centre for Christianity and the civilization of Islam.

Haddad told Petra upon his return to Jordan that the meeting aimed at enhancing understanding and cultural exchange between Jordan and Scotland.

23 February 2011

Interfaith harmony, peace go hand in hand

 

Interfaith specialists and clerics on Tuesday explored different means of fostering dialogue among the followers of the Abrahamic religions.

The symposium, held by the University of Jordan (UJ) in cooperation with the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies, marks World Interfaith Harmony Week, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Proposed by His Majesty King Abdullah and adopted by the UN General Assembly in October, World Interfaith Harmony Week seeks to spread a message of interfaith harmony among followers of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. ...More

13 February 2011

U.S. and Jordanian Missions Co-Host Discussion on Interfaith Collaboration

 

The Permanent Missions of the United States of America and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan jointly sponsored a panel discussion on the occasion of the first World Interfaith Harmony Week, as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in November 2010.

Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, U.S. Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council and Ambassador Shehab Madi, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations welcomed guests from other diplomatic missions, NGOs and civil society representatives to the February 7, 2011 event at the United States Mission.

Four panelists – Rashad Hussain, President Obama’s Special Envoy to the OIC, Father Nabil Haddad, Founder and CEO of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center, Randa Kuziez, a young interfaith activist from the United States, and Robin Sclafani, Director of CEJI, Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe – led a discussion on how to bridge interreligious divides and promote religious tolerance. ...More

Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center

Father Nabil Haddad

 

Birthed among the sandstones of the Holy Land of Jordan with the Amman Message and Common Word, this noble initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Mohammed, is an initiative designed for the world holy land, the communities of those who love and seek to serve humanity.

We at the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center (JICRC) believe this initiative has come forth at a necessary time, a time when world turmoil calls for leaders, individuals, families, students, every individual to stand up and, in Love of God and in Love of Neighbor for the good of all. With enthusiasm, we support and praise this endeavor and call out for everyone to join hands and walk forward into the coming years with a steadfast gaze on a horizon of harmony.

6.18. 2009 trip to Norway

 

Embed link to FRIENDS AND PARTNERS page Chicago Center for Cultural Connections - Interfaith Global Peace Initiative (http://www.connections-chicago.org/test/indexhome.php)

In July 2010,  the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center (JICRC) kick-started another initiative intent on fostering peaceful coexistence, as Father Nabil Haddad welcomed a contingent of 7 esteemed guests from the City of Chicago for the inaugural event of the Interfaith Global Peace Initiative.  The event was a resounding success, and merely the first step in an ongoing relationship between the sister cities of Amman and Chicago.  Included in the contingent were Rabbi Daniel Sherbill, known for founding a synagogue in a Chicago mosque, His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, and the Rev. Stanley Davis, Co-Executive Director of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.  
 
IGPI had its birth in April of this year, when Father Haddad accompanied King Abdullah II to Chicago.  Impressed with the words of His Majesty, Haddad and a group of influential Chicago religious leaders decided to institute a partnership between the twin cities to open the lines of dialogue and begin to establish relationships in the name of peace between East and West.  In Chicago, the initiative garnered the support of Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, and the Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley.  In Amman, the group also received blessings from leadership. ...More