As part of the global celebrations around the World Interfaith Harmony Week this year, Federal President of Austria, Dr. Heinz Fischer will join the KAICIID Secretary General and the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Austria H.E. Mr. Hussam Al Husseini at the International Dialogue Centre in Vienna to highlight the importance of interfaith harmony.

Every year, in the first week of February, religious leaders from all faiths and from all over the world organize interreligious activities in the first week of February to show their solidarity and to strengthen bonds and build bridges within the global interreligious movement. Titled “World Interfaith Harmony Week” (WIHW), this initiative provides a platform for people engaging in interreligious activities and seeks to spread the message of harmony and tolerance.

The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), in partnership with the Austrian Foreign Ministry and the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Jordan will be taking part in several events in support of WIHW. On 1 February, KAICIID will be joining in this year’s “Peace Vesper” at the world famous Melk Abbey, which together with keynote speaker Mouhanad Khorchide, Austrian religious leaders, the OSCE’s diplomatic corps and members of civil society will deepen peaceful cooperation and demonstrate a culture of peace.

On 2 February, KAICIID will also be hosting Austrian Federal President, Heinz Fischer, at KAICIID HQ, who will be speaking on the importance of interreligious dialogue, and its role in solving the problems we face today, including the refugee crisis. President Fischer will be welcomed to KAICIID by the Secretary General and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Jordan.

KAICIID Board Members Reverend Kosho Niwano and Dr. Sayyed Mohajerani will join KAICIID in celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week.

World Interfaith Harmony Week

World Interfaith Harmony Week was established by UN resolution in 2010 and is based on the Common Word Initiative, which was created in order to engage Muslim and Christian leaders in dialogue to promote peace. WIHW encourages religious leaders to commit once a year to coordinating IRD activities and unites religions while respecting their uniqueness and independence without compromising any of their own religious tenets. WIHW serves people of all faiths, and those with no faith, to foster peace and harmony in the world.