Details

Middle Eastern societies undergo fundamental changes in their demographic structures due to migration and the evolution of pluralistic societies. In these pluralistic societies essential political, ethnic-cultural or religious minorities do contribute considerably to the formation of politics and social affairs through their needs and interests. The conference will focus on Challenges and Chances of Religious, Ethnic-Cultural, and Political Diversification in Contemporary Societies and on the challenges of successful integration, as well as on the political, legal and social participation of minorities. These different social, theological, political, cultural and ethnic aspects shall be discussed from a Jewish, Christian and Muslim point of view. 40 experts of cooperating organizations from Europe and the Middle East will contribute to this conference.

Sunday, November 15, 2009Ayla Room, Intercontinental Hotel Amman

19:30 – 19:45Welcome

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schreiner- Co-ordinator,European Abrahamic Forum – Zürich

HE Hasan Abu Nimah - Director, Regional Human Security Centre, Amman; Former Director of Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, Amman

Mr. Thomas Birringer - Acting Representative, Konrad-Adenauer- Stiftung e.V., Amman Office

19:45 – 20:00Greetings

HE Andrea Reichlin - Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland, Amman

HE Dr. Joachim Heidorn - Ambassador, German Embassy, Amman

20:00Keynote Lecture

HRH Prince El-Hassan bin Talal

Reception

Monday, November 16, 2009Royal Scientific Society (3rd floor)

08:15Pick up from Hotel

08:45 – 9:00Registration

From Diversity to Pluralism: Legal and Political Aspects / Theories and Experiences

09:00 – 9:15Opening

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schreiner - European Abrahamic Forum, Zürcher Lehrhaus

Accepting Variety – Living with Diversity: Concepts and Experiences of Regulating Relations between Ethnic-Cultural and Religious Communities and their Political Impact in Contemporary Societies. Take, for example:

09:15 – 10:15The Jordanian Integrative Experiment

HE Mr. Hasan Abu Nimah - Regional Human Security Centre, Amman

10:15 – 10:45Coffee Break

10:45 – 11:30The Jordanian Experience

(Legal Status of Non-Muslims in Jordan)

Mr. Muin Khoury - Royal Hashemite Court - Amman

11:30 – 12:30The Egyptian Experience (Muslim and Coptic Views)

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sharkawy - Egypt

Mr. Morcos Badie Abd el Malek - Egypt

Dr. Christiane Paulus - Egypt

12:30 – 14:30Lunch

14:30 – 16:00The Lebanese Experience (Looking for Re-Integration)

Fr. Fadi Daou SJ - Lebanon

Mrs. Djénane Kareh-Tager - France

The Sudanese Experience

Mrs. Lubna Ahmed Hussein - Sudan

16:00 – 16:30Coffee Break

16:30 – 18:00 The Turkish Experience Laicité (Secularism) and the Legacy of the Ottoman Empire

Dr. Cengiz Aktar - Turkey

Christian Experiences in the Arab Islamic World

Fr. Gandolf Wild - Switzerland / United Arab Emirates

18:00Departure to Madaba, Visit of St. George Church

(The Church of the “the 6th century Map of the Holy Land”)

19:30Dinner, Restaurant Haret Jdoudna

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

08:15Pick up from Hotel

08:45 – 09:00Registration

Conceptualizing Experiences

09:00 – 10:15Pluralistic Society and Civil State

From Islamic Perspective

Dr. Naseef Naeem - Germany

From a European Point of View

Prof. Dr. Carmen López Alonso - Spain

10:15 – 11:00Diversity in Islam (and the Problem of Pluralism)

Dr. Aman Kabbara - Lebanon

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:45Concepts of Belonging

Dr. Giusep Nay - Switzerland

Prof. Dr. Rajaa Naji el Mekkaoui - Morocco

12:45 - 14:30Lunch

Re-Thinking Principles and Practices

14:30 – 16:00Challenges and Chances of Pluralism:

The Islamic Concept of Freedom of Religion

and its Impact on Religious Pluralism

Mr. Mezri Haddad - Tunis / France

Choosing One’s Religion: Conversion, Apostasy and Mixed Marriages

Prof. Dr. Reuven Firestone - United States of America

16:00 – 16:30Coffee Break

16:30 – 18:00Reflecting Experiences

Inter-cultural School Education and other tasks for today and tomorrow

Mr. Marko Antonio Brkić- Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mrs. Angelika Pantel - Germany

Lic. Rifa’at Lenzin - Switzerland

18:00Summing-Up

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schreiner - European Abrahamic Forum, Zürcher Lehrhaus

HE Mr. Hassan Abu Nimah - Regional Human Security Centre, Amman

Mr. Thomas Birringer - Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Amman Office

20:00Closing Dinner, Romero Restaurant