Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Chair of MCB’s Mosque and Community Affairs Committee, joined an ECRL delegation to Kyrgyzstan from 19th to 22nd December 2011. The visit was a follow up of a January 2011 delegation visit and conference, which encouraged ECRL to accompany Kyrgyz religious leaders in their efforts to contribute to reconciliation and nation building in the aftermath of violent conflicts in their country.
The ECRL delegation was led by Bishop Gunnar Stålsett and included Sister Marian Murcia, Professor Senaid Bülent, Mr. Vakhtang Kipshidze, and General Secretary Stein Villumstad. The delegation engaged in conversations with representatives of government, religious leaders, civil society groups and international organisations in Bishkek and Osh. The delegation was informed about progress and challenges in the political and economic developments in the country since the social and political upheavals in June 2010. They heard reports of civil society efforts to address humanitarian and human rights challenges, and received updates on the initiative to explore a possible mechanism for interreligious cooperation and interreligious council.
More than 40 Kyrgyz religious leaders and personalities met together with the ECRL delegation, representatives of Kyrgyz governmental institutions, international organisations, national civil society groups and academia in Bishkek 21 December. Participants of the conference were reminded that the Kyrgyz peoples’ yearning for peace and human flourishing are calling all people of good will for common action. Attention was drawn to the vulnerable groups in Kyrgyzstan and participants pledged to address their concerns in the spirit of common action. Government representatives as well as religious leaders and civil society representatives re-iterated their commitment to explore their respective roles in building a just and harmonious Kyrgyz society.
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