The eighteenth radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on May 11, 2018, on the topic of “Importance of Interfaith Harmony for Social Cohesion”.

Ulasi Taroon consciously promotes the virtues of democratic ideals such as equality, acceptance, inclusion and tolerance as a measure of ensuring social peace and harmony regardless of faith. It also attempts to ensure a diverse participation in its series of radio shows i.e. people from diverse communities and faiths.

The first guest on show, Mr. Alexander Mehboob from Diocese of Peshawar, Church of Pakistan, emphatically said that all the religions promote peace, love and tolerance. The religious leaders from all faiths must promote these values if we are dreaming of a cohesive society but unfortunately, there are very limited efforts to create respect for other faiths among the masses.

The second guest on show, Mr. Haroon Sarbdiyal, a rights activist working in Peshawar on interfaith harmony and rights of the minorities, representative of Hindu community noted that the 1973 constitution of Pakistan ensures religious freedoms along with fundamental human rights for all citizens of Pakistan, but not only the minority faiths, even the majority Muslims are unaware of their fundamental human rights. It is need of the hour to sensitize our youth on the importance of cross-religious and cultural relations, to help strengthen social cohesion and foster the interfaith harmony.

Maulana Hayat Ullah suggested that the onus is on our religious leaders too to create an environment of harmony, peace, and love and understanding among different faiths, communities and cultures. They should also develop their own understanding of the different religions before promoting peaceful coexistence.

About Ulasi Taroon

Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.