This year’s Victorian State Parliament Iftar Dinner took place in Sofitel Hotel’s Latrobe Ballroom on Monday, 5 June 2017. Organised by the Australian Intercultural Society (AIS), the event was attended by over 200 guests, including about state and federal members of Parliament and representatives from the Melbourne consular corps.
The program was emceed by Sarah Abo, who reports for SBS World News.
The dinner was co-hosted by two Parliamentarians: the Hon Robin Scott, the Minster for Multicultural Affairs and Mrs Inga Peulich, Shadow Minster for Multicultural Affairs. The keynote speaker was Edward Santow, Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Sheikh Abdurrahman Malas, gave the call to prayer (adhan) and recited several verses from the Quran.
The dinner also featured a wonderful musical performance by a Sufi music group.
The evening concluded with reflection from guest, a vote of thanks by AIS Executive Director Ahmet Keskin and exchange of gifts.
Education as a Bridging Factor of All Dimensions of the Sustainable Development
Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF), in partnership with Peace Islands Institute, organized a discussion panel during the 2nd Session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations Headquarters. The panelists discussed that education was one of the key factors that affected all dimensions of sustainable development and could enhance the integration of the dimensions in a cross-sectoral manner.
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The Rumi Forum bestowed its traditional Peace and Dialogue Awards on Tuesday. Congressman Connolly praised the activities of the Rumi Forum, saying, “If there is something that I think is important and that is represented by this forum tonight and the work of the Rumi Forum, it is the ability it has to bind us all in tolerance and understanding.”
Dinners in Ramadan tent welcome all faiths in Bethlehem
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A Symphony of Compassion
God calls us to make music in our world; to perform in a global symphony of compassion. If each human being lived by the law of compassion, what a wonderful world this would be! I can’t help but think that this is God’s plan for us.It is Fethullah Gulen who coined the phrase, “A Symphony of Compassion.” Those who walk the path of compassion bring the music of divine energy into our everyday lives.
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