Lima, Peru—On the ninth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, May 14, 2019, UPF-Peru visited a main mosque in Lima at the invitation of the Islamic Association of Peru. UPF-Peru Secretary General Mr. Jaime Fernandez Tupac coordinated the visit with the chapter’s president, Dr. Trevor Jones, and the president of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD)-Peru, Bishop Jesus Mejia Quiroz. The invitation was open to members of the IAPD and the Presidential Council of UPF-Peru.
The UPF group was received by Sheikh Ahmed Osman Ali Kassem, imam of the mosque, who has been an Ambassador for Peace since 2017.
It was an inspiring meeting in which the sheikh and members of the Islamic Association of Peru shared their Islamic doctrine and exchanged ideas of faith. The sheikh expressed his hope to continue working together in favor of the entire religious community in Peru.
Representatives of the IAPD included Bishop Mejia Quiroz, Bishop Juan Carlos Cellis, Rev. Victor Calderon and other guests from their church, the Anglican Catholic Church of Peru. Other guests included Brother Walter Bobadilla of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Mr. Adrian Salinas, representative of the Christian Police Association of Peru; and Mrs. Maritza Clotilde of the Catholic group Angeles de Custodia.
At the beginning, everyone gathered around the dining table, and the sheikh spoke a little about his faith. At the time of dinner, the guests were separated; men dined on the side of the marquee and women on the other side. Because it is the month of Ramadan, members of the mosque broke their daily fast at sunset.
Then the president of the Islamic Association came to meet the UPF group. After the dinner, the male guests were invited to his office, where he shared a little more detail about what it means to be a true believer in Islam. He warmly welcomed everyone and was very happy that the Ambassadors for Peace were present. At the end of the meeting he presented everyone with books about Islam and some sweets from Arabia (dates). During the meeting, Bishop Mejia Quiroz spoke about UPF-Peru’s interfaith projects.
Radio Moderna, which broadcasts a weekly radio program about UPF, broadcast live some parts of the week’s program from the mosque.
All the Ambassadors for Peace and religious guests were very inspired by the experience and the sheikh confirmed his desire to continue working together with UPF.