Inter Faith Week

The IAW theme for 2009, ‘Walk the Talk’, is being driven by the establishment of the first ever “inter-faith week” in England. The idea of the week came from the consultation that led to the first ever government document devoted to inter faith interaction (Face to Face and Side by Side, 2008), which in turn was one of the responses to the report by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion in 2007.

 

The point of the week is to explore ways to:

 - Encourage (Face To Face) dialogue

 - Build understanding

 - Celebrate values held in common as well as acknowledge distinctiveness

 - Increase opportunities to work together (Side by Side)

 - Develop good relations with people of different faiths and no faith

 

It is hoped that Interfaith Week will encourage communities to hold events to celebrate and raise awareness of the positive inter faith work that is being undertaken everywhere.

 

 

The Islamic Society of Britain initiated Islam Awareness Week (IAW) in 1994 as an annual, week-long programme designed to raise awareness and remove misconceptions surrounding Britain’s second largest faith group. During the week Muslim communities throughout the country organise activities and events to provide information about their way of life, develop relationships with individuals and institutions, promote social interaction and celebrate Islamic art and culture. In 2009 a key theme of the Week will be inter faith dialogue, highlighting the ways in which Muslims are working with other faith communities and promoting good inter faith relations as well as engaging with wider society.

 

This year IAW coincides with a one-off national Inter Faith Week for England and Wales. Islam Awareness Week activities will be an important part of the events during this Inter Faith Week and are likely, as such, to receive additional publicity. It will also help the commitment of Muslims to inter faith dialogue and co-operation to be celebrated alongside that of Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and people of other faiths. There has been careful consultation between the organisers of the ‘Weeks’ to ensure complementarity and added value. Timing of the Inter Faith Week was also subject to careful consultation with other faith communities.