Building on the success of the first training session in Bamenda, 40+ Imams from the conflict-torn North West & South West Regions of Cameroon will converge on Buea in August.

Context  

Peace is essential for every society. It is a prerequisite for development. Despite the importance of Peace in community development, the North West and the southwest regions of Cameroon have been plagued by violence since the start of the Anglophone Crisis in 2016. Part of these problems is caused by the spread of violent extremism both online and offline. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”. The resolution proclaims 18^th June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech for the first time in 2022.

Hate speech incites and undermines social cohesion and tolerance. The devastating effect of hatred is sadly nothing new. However, its scale and impact are nowadays amplified by new technologies of communication, to the point that hate speech – including online – has become one of the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and ideologies on a global scale and threatening peace. Hatred is a danger to everyone and so fighting it must be a job for everyone. In response to the alarming trends of growing xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred around the world, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech on 18 June 2019. Going by this, Religious leaders have a great role to play to end all of these and promote sustainable peace in every society. 

Justification

In most societies especially in the Muslim community, Imams command a huge following of faithful’s who have a great respect for them and strictly follow their teachings as they pray together at least five times daily. Hence, they can preach peace to the community when trained on strategies to include peace messages in public prayers like the Friday sermons that brings together a huge Muslim gathering. 

On the initiative of Imam Mohamed Tukur Adamu of the Bamenda Central Mosque and Chief Imam Alhadji Mohammed Aboubakar of the Buea Islamic Central Mosque Complex; some Imams, Muslim scholars, youth and women group leaders from the conflict-torn North West and South West Region will converge on Buea from 16 to 19 August, 2023. They will gain knowledge and reflect on how to foster peace initiatives in their respective communities. This session builds on the success and lessons learnt during the maiden workshop hosted by the Mah’at Institute in Bamenda, last 21 to 23 December, 2022. The training workshop will hold under the theme: “Fostering the Role of Religious Leaders (Imams), and Muslim youths in Peace building and social cohesion in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon”. 

Objectives:

• To engage Imams, Youth and Women group leaders based in the conflict rocked North West and South West regions of Cameroon in Peacebuilding efforts.

• To drill and equip religious leaders (Imams)Youth Leaders and Muslim women group leaders with peacebuilding strategies in the North West and South West to enable them participate in the peace processes
• To create a synergy of actions between the Muslim community and leaders of other denominations – Baptist, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian religious leaders within the NW& SW Regions of Cameroon.  
• Put in place a mechanism on early warning, early response on conflict resolutions in communications
• To encourage religious leaders, Youth and Women group leaders to collectively champion peace initiatives through their pass it on sessions in their communities and application of knowledge and skills acquired in peacebuilding.

Methodology:

Meeting in Buea from 16 to 19 August, 2023 selected participants will be drilled through presentations, talks and group working sessions led by Islamic Scholarship, civil society actors and experts, university dons and other relevant resource persons. Muslim youth and women will equally attend the session in a bid to learn ways they can engage their peers in championing peace initiatives locally. Discussions will centre on, but not limited to, topics such as: 

• The role and responsibility of Imams in times of conflict/emergency
• Peace building strategies in times of conflicts
• Access to Humanitarian response as Tool to promote peace within conflict regions
• Conduct of Community leaders in Peace Building in crisis affected areas
• Practical tips of engaging followers on peace building
• Islam a religion of peace for Humanity
• Islamic rulings on living together and methods of mediating disputes
• Islamic solidarity and responses in times of crisis

Expected outcome

• Engaged Imams based in the conflict rocked North West and South West regions of Cameroon in the Peace building efforts.
• Equipped religious leaders (Imams) with peace building strategies in the North West and South West to enable them participate in the peace building  processes
• Synergy of actions between the Muslim community and leaders of other denominations (Baptist, Catholic and Presbyterian etc.)
• Put in place a mechanism on early warning, early response on conflict resolutions in communications
• Encouraged religious leaders to champion peace initiatives through their pass it on sessions in their communities.

While the entire #defyhatenow is engaged in this upcoming activity, the Imams are equally brainstorming on avenues for pass-it-on sessions in their respective communities, at a time when religious leaders are taking centre-stage in proposing lasting solutions to the devastating effects of the armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions. 

#defyhatenow #Act4Peace #HateFreeCameroon #NoToHatespeech #NoToViolence