OVERCOMING ISLAMOPHOBIA – promoting inter-religious dialogue and co-operation Report of the study session held by Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe and Forum for European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations in co-operation with the European Youth Centre Strasbourg of the Council of Europe European Youth Centre Strasbourg 19 th – 26 th March 2006 This report gives an account of various aspects of the study session. It has been produced by and is the responsibility of the educational team of the study session. It does not represent the official point of view of the Council of Europe. 2 (DJS/S (2006)2) Strasbourg, 14 th June 2006 OVERCOMING ISLAMOPHOBIA – promoting inter-religious dialogue and co-operation Report of the study session held by Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe and Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations in co-operation with the European Youth Centre Strasbourg of the Council of Europe European Youth Centre Strasbourg 19 th – 26 th March 2006 Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe Rue du Champ de Mars 5, B-1050 Bruxelles, Belgium tel: +32 2 510 6187, fax: +32 2 510 6172 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.eyce.org Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations Rue de Archimède 50, B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgium tel: +32 2 280 69 22, fax: +32 2 280 69 23 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.femyso.org 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Greetings................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Executive summary..................................................................................................5 1.2 Greetings from the organisations .............................................................................7 1.3 Greetings from participants ......................................................................................9 2. Introduction to the study session.......................................................................... 11 2.1 Background............................................................................................................11 2.2 Aims and objectives ...............................................................................................11 2.3 Aims of the calendar process.................................................................................12 2.4 Programme of the study session............................................................................13 2.4.1 Main topics and flow of the programme...........................................................13 2.4.2 Practicalities from an inter-religious perspective..............................................13 2.4.3 Timetable ........................................................................................................14 2.5 Participants............................................................................................................15 2.6 International Planning Committee ..........................................................................16 2.7 Guests ...................................................................................................................16 3. Day-to-day programme........................................................................................... 17 3.1 Monday 20th of March 2006...................................................................................17 3.2 Tuesday 21 st March 2006.......................................................................................21 3.3 Wednesday 22 nd March 2006.................................................................................25 3.4 Thursday 23 rd March 2006 .....................................................................................28 3.5 Friday 24 th March 2006 ..........................................................................................29 3.6 Saturday 25 th March 2006......................................................................................29 4. Analysis of the study session................................................................................ 33 4.1 Evaluation..............................................................................................................33 4.2 Outcomes ..............................................................................................................34 4.2.1 Overview.........................................................................................................34 4.2.2 Outcomes for the participants..........................................................................34 4.2.3 What was planned...........................................................................................36 4.2.4 What was produced ........................................................................................36 4.2.5 Outcomes for organisations.............................................................................37 4.2.6 Recommendations for future European youth work.........................................38 4.3 Follow-up ...............................................................................................................38 4.5 Conclusions ...........................................................................................................39 Appendices ................................................................................................................. 41 Appendix 1 List of team members, guests, and participants.........................................41 Appendix 2 Expectations..............................................................................................44 Appendix 3 Detailed evaluation....................................................................................46 Appendix 4 Methods used............................................................................................55 Appendix 5 Calendar methodology ..............................................................................59 Appendix 6 Resources and materials...........................................................................63 Appendix 7 Prayers......................................................................................................70 4 1. Greetings 1.1 Executive summary Islamophobia is a serious phenomenon that currently affects many young people in Europe. Committed to exploring and combating the issue, EYCE (Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe) and FEMYSO (Forum of European Muslim and Youth Organisations) organised a joint study session titled “Overcoming Islamophobia – promoting inter- religious dialogue and co-operation”. The event gathered together more than 30 young people from all over Europe, from both Muslim and Christian background, to gain knowledge and skills about how to overcome Islamophobia. The study session, held 19 th – 26 th March 2006, was hosted by the Council of Europe in the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. The main aim of the study session was to provide young multipliers with information and practical skills about how to promote inter-religious dialogue and co-operation for overcoming Islamophobia in their national and local contexts. The study session addressed the issue from various angles. The first days provided a theoretical background for understanding the roots of Islamophobia, whereas the rest of the week was dedicated to getting to know actual tools for doing inter-religious dialogue. Specifically, the tool “Making Inter-religious Calendar” was used. The week ended with making plans about how to use the newly gained skills, tools and knowledge back home. One of the most important aims of the week was to engage the participants into inter- religious dialogue themselves. Therefore, much work during the week was done in small groups. Working together in changing mixed groups provided participants with numerous opportunities to engage in actual grass-root dialogue and to share experiences and viewpoints. Also the Questions & Answers session in which the participants shared information and experiences contributed greatly to this aim. This participatory approach was very successful and was in general considered to be one of the highlights of the week by the participants. Further, as the week also included regular Muslim and Christian prayers that were open for everyone to attend to, the participants also experienced the practical side of the religions. The prayers were much appreciated by the participants as they provided a unique opportunity to observe the practices of both religions, and many discussions took place related to the prayers. This deepened their understanding of the religions – also of their own. In addition to the focus on dialogue and participatory learning, theoretical input was an important element of the study session. Many methods ranging from visual presentations, lectures, small group work and creative approaches were used throughout the week to ensure balance in various learning styles. As to the lectures, Bashy Quraishy from the European Network Against Racism held a lecture on “Defining Islamophobia” in which he clarified the background and definition of the concept of Islamophobia. Furthermore, as media has especially recently (”the Danish cartoons”) played an extensive role in how people analyse religious groups’ behaviour, Dr. Gavan Titley led a lecture and a workshop about the role of mass media in the construction of Islamophobia. These inputs offered new viewpoints for the participants and made them realise how the phenomenon is constructed also in their national contexts. Further, to gain an understanding