In Support of a Friend

Inayat Ali Shakir, Chairman of Tehrik Akhuwat Islami Pakistan (TAI or ‘Interfaith Dialogue Committee’), is a friend of the Christian Muslim Forum since our early days. I have on my desk a copy of our first progress report which he translated into Urdu and circulated in Pakistan.

His personal commitment to inter faith initiatives and improving Christian-Muslim relations has been acknowledged by Rt Revd Alexander Malik, Bishop of Lahore, ‘TAI under the dynamic leadership of Allama Inayat Ali Shakir is playing an important part in promoting inter-religious dialogue and building bridges of understanding, trust and faith among people of different faiths. I, as Bishop of Lahore and Moderator/Primate of the Church of Pakistan whole-heartedly support and commend Allama’s efforts in this regard.’

He has recently received death threats for his interfaith work, see press cutting below:
Director

Press Release from Gojra, August 2009

‘A delegation of leaders and intellectuals of different faiths led by Chairman Tehrik Akhuwat-e-Islami (TAI), Allama Inayat Ali Shakir visited Gojra on August 10, 2009 to express solidarity with the victim families. It was comprised on Maulana Ahmed Saeed Qureshi, Sahibzada Nisar-ul-Mustafa, Mufti Abdul Qavi (Multan), Father John William and others. The delegation visited central church (Samundri road), met with the victim families at Korian and inquired about the health of injured persons in Civil Hospital. Members of the visiting delegation also met with Bishop Joseph of Gojra Church who briefed about the incident in length. Later, Chairman TAI addressing a news conference at Administration Office said that involvement banned organizations could not be ignored in this incident. He said Islam is the religion of peace, which never allows suicide attacks and torching houses of someone. He said Muslim Christian unity has foiled the nefarious design of the miscreants. He termed it a move to defame Pakistan at international level. He said those involved in this incident has no connection with religion, adding no one has the right to take the law in his hands and torch houses of the people. He lauded the measures taken by the federal and provincial governments soon after this mayhem. He stressed the need to promote interfaith harmony to curb such kind of incidents. Chairman TAI asked the government to immediate arrest the accused involved in the incident and should award exemplary punishments.’

A Call to Prayer

Please pray for courageous and committed Muslims and Christians, of all traditions, who work for inter faith peace, harmony and reconciliation in the face of hatred, prejudice and ignorance. Also pray for those Christians and Muslims who suffer mistreatment, injury and death at each other’s hands. Please also support inter faith reconciliation initiatives in as many ways as possible.

A Range of Christian-Muslim Peace Initiatives

Nigeria: The Imam and the Pastor

Nottingham: Good Friday

Pakistan:

Attacks on Christians in Pakistan

Statements: Religious Festivals and Celebrations, A Shared Commitment to God and Each Other, Ethical Witness Guidelines

Julian Bond