Denmark Conference
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Aim
After Danish journalists published cartoons on the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, great tension arose between Muslims in Denmark and the Danish government and between the Arab world and Denmark. RSFI found these tensions an opportunity to clarify several principles of the Islamic faith and points on the Prophet Muhammad to the Danish people, specifically the youth.
What?
A group of 25 Arab youth – 4 Algerians, 1 Moroccan/Spanish, 4 Saudis, 1 Jordanian, 1 Palestinian/British, 12 Egyptians and 1 Yemeni, were chosen out of 2000 applicants to join a youth conference in Denmark.
The two-day conference included the discussion of three main topics:
1. This is Our Religion, This is Our Prophet: What is the Islamic faith and who is the Prophet Muhammad?
2. Freedom of Speech
3. Ideas for projects to be carried out through mutual cooperation between Danish and Arab youth.
The first day of the conference included a dialogue and group sessions between the Arab-Muslim and Danish youth discussing the above topics. The second day of the conference was a press conference; the panel speaking on behalf of the Muslim youth included Amr Khaled, Habib Ali al-Jifri and Tarek Swaidan.
When and Where?
The conference took place in Copenhagen, Denmark during March 2006.
How?
RSFI worked with human resource consultants in the Arab world to create a suitable application form for youth to join the conference. RSFI received 2000 applications from Arab youth after the form was uploaded onto the website. 25 youth were chosen after close study and comparison.
In Denmark, RSFI worked in partnership with several Danish civil society organizations that provided 25 Danish youth representatives to participate in the conference.
Achievements
The main achievement of the conference is the space it created for dialogue among youth of different backgrounds. The conference created awareness on the topics discussed among the Danish youth and it allowed Arab youth to better understand the reasons for misconceptions about Islam and the Prophet among Danish youth. The conference was also the an opening for further dialogues and the continuation of the idea of the conference in Abu-Dhabi and other countries across the globe.
