| 3/15/2004: The Pastor and the Imam: Forging an Alliance to Combat Religious Conflict in Nigeria |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Please join us for an on-the-record briefing about the ongoing sectarian and communal violence in Nigeria, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives over the past five years. Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa, former leaders for militant Christian and Muslim youth in Nigeria, will give an overview of the causes of religious violence, ongoing dilemmas, and efforts to prevent and mitigate further outbreaks. In early 1990s violence between Muslim and Christian youth in Kaduna, part of Pastor Wuye's arm was cut off by a machete and some of Imam Ashafa's relatives were killed. Under highly unlikely circumstances, they eventually came together in 1995 and co-founded the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Forum and the Inter-Faith Mediation Center, organizations that help create better understanding between the communities and provide mediation when violence occurs. They have been called on numerous times and successfully mitigated religious tensions in Kaduna, Kano, and Plateau states, areas in the Middle Belt and Northern Nigeria that have been the site of much sectarian violence in recent years. They are the 2004 recipients of the "Common Ground Interfaith Cooperation Award." WHO: Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa, Co-Founders of the Inter-Faith Mediation Center, Kaduna, Nigeria WHEN: 2:00 - 3:30 pm, Friday, March 19, 2004 WHERE: The Offices of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 790, Washington, DC 20002 ** Seating is limited, so please RSVP by calling Danielle Simms at (202) 523-3240 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (202) 523-3240 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, ext. 34 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it no later than Thursday, March 18th **
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