‘See Religion As Tool For Promoting Peaceful Coexistence’

The Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) launched with the mission to promote Freedom of Religion or Belief, has urged Nigerians to see religion as a tool for promoting peaceful coexistence instead of violence.

The country coordinator of JISRA, Jude Likita made the call during a press conference organised in Abuja to mark International Day Commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.

The country coordinator, who said the organisation was launched with the mission of promoting Freedom of Religion, fostering interfaith dialogue, and addressing harmful cultural practices, also revealed that JISRA works with a Consortium of partners across seven countries.

He said their partners are faith-based organisations who have worked tirelessly to bridge religious divides and promote peaceful coexistence in communities across Nigeria, Mali, Ethiopia as well as Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda and Iraq.

While also explaining that the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) project is a five-year peacebuilding programme with the responsibility of reconciling divided communities and promoting peaceful, inclusive, and just societies within the countries of their operations, Likita said they are presently implementing the programme in Kaduna and Plateau states.

„Today we commemorate the victims of the Acts of violence that have been carried out against religion, and we hope we will be able to push towards promotion of freedom of religion in Nigeria.

„In Nigeria, we are implementing this project in basically two states, Kaduna and Plateau, as well as other lobby and advocacy efforts that have been done at the state and national levels“, he said