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World Interfaith Harmony Week Observed in France
Written by Jacques Marion, President, UPF-France
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Evry, France - One month after the terrorist events in January, in order to mark the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, UPF-France organized a gathering at the Islamic Cultural Center of Evry, south of Paris, on Feb. 8.
The program featured a film based on Sufi spirituality entitled “Bab’ Aziz, the Prince Who Contemplated His Soul.” In this 2005 film, co-produced by Iran, Tunisia, France, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom, Tunisian director Nacer Khemir stated that he wished to show "an open, tolerant and friendly Islamic culture, full of love and wisdom. … ”
The event was co-sponsored by three organizations: the Islamic Cultural Center of the Evry Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Europe, led by Rector Khalil Merroun; the Jewish-Muslim Society of France, led by Rabbi Michel Serfaty, which is very active in interreligious-intercultural projects between Jews and Muslims (www.ajmf.org); and UPF-France.
Located within the Evry Mosque compound, the Islamic Cultural Center is a large hall built for lectures and cultural events. Around 150 participants attended the UPF event, mostly from the Paris area; however, due to the symbolic significance of the occasion, a few people even came a long way, from northern, southern and western parts of France.
Participants included numerous UPF Ambassadors for Peace from various backgrounds and faiths, including Mrs. Fatiha Bemmoussat, vice president of the French Union of Muslim Women; Professor Edmond Jouve from the Sorbonne University, as well as many UPF volunteers. Other participants came from Evry and neighboring towns.
The event began with welcoming words and a brief introduction to Sufism by Rector Khalil Merroun of the Evry Mosque, himself the descendant of a Moroccan Sufi master. Then Rabbi Serfaty greeted participants, referring to Jewish history and scriptures and their connection to spiritual traditions in the Middle East. UPF-France President Jacques Marion spoke on the meaning of the Interfaith Harmony Week in the perspective of the UPF proposal for an interfaith council at the United Nations. (http://www.upf.org/united-nations/interfaith-council-proposal)
The film was presented by Mr. Lionel Tardif, founder and longtime director of the Cinémathèque of Tours, France, and artistic director of the International Festival of Music and Images of the World. Set in a beautifully filmed desert, with dialogue inspired by the poetry of Rumi, the great 13th-century Persian Sufi poet, the film gives an allegoric account of spiritual truths and traditions taught by Sufism.
Although it was already late in the afternoon, those who remained for the debate led by Rector Merroun and Mr. Tardif could enjoy explanations from Muslim scholars on some of the deeper points made by the movie. Some commented that, in contrast to the name of Islam being used with regard to recent terrorist attacks, the universal nature of the truth shown by the film was a foundation for peace and harmony among religions. Rabbi Serfaty concluded with an insightful talk on the historical, common background of various myths taught by great religions in the Middle East.
Already planned a few months ahead, the event took on a special meaning after the January terror attacks in France. Synagogues and mosques have been placed under constant police protection ever since. Thus, there had been concerns whether such an event, in a mosque under police protection, had any chance of attracting participants. But the number and diversity of participants showed that an interfaith gathering is a powerful motivation for action in this time of religious and cultural conflicts.
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