Promoting Religious Pluralism:
JISRA Training on Islam and Freedom of Religion and Belief

March 2025

As part of the Dutch-funded ‘Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Engagement’ (JISRA) project, the Peacemakers Network convened 24 staff of JISRA partners from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda for a training on Islam and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Kampala, Uganda. Building on their deep knowledge on diversity and pluralism from an Islamic perspective, participants were equipped with skills to understand different schools of thought in Islam as well as understanding Islam and religious pluralism from the perspective of the Marrakesh Declaration. By the end of the week, participants gained practical skills on how to build upon their expertise to advance interreligious dialogue and peaceful coexistence within their communities.

Group photo with participants, facilitators, and the Peacemakers Network. March 2025.

“I found this training to be an eye-opening experience. Coming from a Christian Catholic background, I initially approached the training with curiosity but soon discovered the depth of Islamic teachings on diversity, pluralism, and human rights. Through interactive sessions and discussions, I gained a richer understanding of the different schools of thought within Islam, each contributing uniquely to theological discourse and societal interactions. This broadened my perspective on religious coexistence and the importance of nurturing mutual respect among faith communities.“

–Oringo Amwogo, a seasoned practitioner in peacebuilding and governance from Chemi Chemi, Kenya

Participants engaging in interreligious dialouge during training. March 2025.

This is the third training on Islam and FoRB organised by the Peacemakers Network as part of the JISRA project, with a specific focus on the implementation of the Marrakesh Declaration. Signed by Islamic scholars in 2016, this document supports the protection of numerical religious minorities in Muslim-majority countries. Additionally, it supports Muslim-religious minorities in communities around the world. Participants in the training develop country action plans to advance the principles and the implementation of the Marrakesh Declaration in their respective countries.

“What amazed me most about the Marrakesh Declaration is how such a remarkable peace tool isn’t well-known. Once you understand the importance and potential impact of the Marrakesh Declaration, not sharing it with your community feels like an injustice to peacebuilding initiatives, especially in diverse religious countries like those in the East African community. The Declaration serves as a powerful framework for fostering understanding, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence among different faiths. By promoting its principles, we can work towards creating more inclusive and empathetic societies.”

–Nejat Mehdi, Women and Youth Focal Person and Secretariat for Ethiopian Interfaith Women and Youth Networks at the Ethiopian Forum for Development, Dialogue, and Action (EIFFDA)

Participants had the opportunity to engage with the interreligious community in Kampala, visiting the work of the Ugandan Muslim Youth Development Forum (UMYDF). UMYDF, a member of the Peacemakers Network, provides youth with technical and vocational skills training and creates job opportunities for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. Founded by two young boys who survived a terrorist attack, the organization welcomes returnees from violent extremist groups, helping them become functional members of society.

The participants also met with Executive Director of the Uganda Muslim Council office before visiting the National Mosque. The Executive Director and other officials of the Uganda Muslim Council gave the participants a historical overview of the Uganda National Mosque and the structure of the Uganda Muslim Council. As participants were both Muslims and Christians, the visit to the Mosque allowed for a display of solidarity and interfaith harmony between the two religious groups.

About the JISRA Project

The Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) is a partnership of 50 civil society organizations based in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda (with supporting lobby and advocacy in Europe and the USA). This international, inter religious partnership is implementing a five-year program (2021-2025) in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to further peaceful and just societies where all enjoy Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB).

The program is coordinated by four international consortium partners: Mensen met een Missie Tearfund UK, Tearfund the Netherlands, Faith to Action Network, Search for Common Ground, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.