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The City of Darebin in partnership with a number of local religious and community organisations including Darebin Ethnic Communities Council and the Islamic Society of Victoria hosted a celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Day at the Darebin Intercultural Centre on Thursday, 5th February 2015.

The event was attended by sixty five participants, including five Councillors from Darebin and surrounding local government areas, and key religious and community leaders from diverse faith traditions in the Darebin Municipality. Darebin Mayor Cr Steven Tsitas delivered a speech and joined faith leaders present to call for community unity and collaboration to fight violence in all its manifestations and to condemn the use of faith traditions by some individuals to justify their criminal and barbaric acts of violence internationally and locally in Australia.

Joint Statement condemning violence proclaimed by Darebin’s Baha’i’, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim representatives.

Professor Joe Camilleri, from the Centre of Dialogue, delivered a key note presentation and emphasized the need for faith communities to foster intra-religious dialogue as an important stepping stone to developing interfaith collaboration. He also stressed the need to ‘listen’ as critical to engaging in a constructive dialogue to foster understanding and peace.

The religious leaders present read out a joint statement and expressed sympathies and humane support to victims of violence, their relatives and friends.

‘As leaders and members of faiths, beliefs and traditions in Darebin, we are aware that we need to remain united as a community to eliminate violence in all its forms, and the use of violence to divide and weaken the spirit of solidarity that characterises our interfaith work’.

The event also hosted the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Darebin City Council and the Islamic Society of Victoria (Preston Mosque). This MOU which was endorsed last year by both organisations commits Council and Preston Mosque to work together to build a safe and inclusive city. It is a commitment to engage with residents and other organisations to celebrate our diversity and to collaborate with each other to address local issues.

Samples of participant’s feedback. “Well done... totally impressed”. “Fantastic event, great turn up of people, totally impressed with the collective reading of the Darebin Interfaith Statement, the MC was great (made some funny comments which warmed the crowd)”, “Prof Joe Camilleri’s speech was thought provoking and Suriyan gave a strong reminder of our obligations to human rights to refugees”. “Lovely time yesterday”.

For further information call Aziz Cooper, Interfaith Development Officer on 8470 8519.