Syed Mukarram Nazeer, Canada Correspondent
The 2nd interfaith peace conference, organised by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Moncton, Canada, took place at the Central United Church and welcomed leaders from five major faiths. The programme, themed “World Crisis and the Fundamentals of Peace,” drew approximately 100 attendees from diverse religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
The event featured distinguished speakers: Archbishop Guy Desrochers (Christianity), Mr Naman Sharma (Hinduism), Dr Francis Weil (Judaism), Mr Balwant Singh (Sikhism), and Zahid Abid Sahib (Islam Ahmadiyyat). Each speaker explored the theme through the lens of their respective religious teachings, emphasising compassion, unity, and respectful dialogue, free from political agendas.
The speech session was followed by an engaging question-and-answer session, allowing attendees to pose questions to specific speakers. Topics ranged from “Nuclear War vs. Nationalism” and the “Middle East Crisis” to “International Laws and Peaceful Dispute Resolution” and the “Dwindling Neutrality of Media.” The conference concluded with silent prayer.
Attendees shared positive reflections on the event. Marie LeBlanc remarked:
“This conference exceeded our expectations. It’s refreshing to see religious leaders focusing on what unites us rather than what divides us.”
A local resident added:
“The level of intellectual discourse and mutual respect demonstrated here tonight gives me hope for the future of faith in our world.”