UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
On 29 October 2025, the UNESCO Chair for Dialogue—
in collaboration with the Continuing Education Unit at the College of Jurisprudence at the University of Kufa, the Department of Comparative Religions, and the Educational Guidance Unit—
held an academic symposium titled “Imamī Scholars Between the Approach to Religions and the Realization of Peace.”
The Chair was represented at this event by its member, Prof. Tahseen Fāḍil.
The symposium comprised two axes.
In the first, Prof. Tahseen Fāḍil expounded upon the role of Shi‘i religious authorities in fostering societal peace.
In the second, Dr. Redha Nasreddin al-Musawi discussed the contribution of Imamī scholars to the study and critique of religions, offering an analytical reading of their writings and their methodological frameworks.
In his intervention, Prof. Fāḍil noted that the fatwas and public statements of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Sistani continuously underscore the imperative of peaceful coexistence.
His Eminence is renowned for rejecting sectarianism, upholding the principle that the people should govern themselves through a democratic system, and insisting upon fairness toward all Iraqis without distinction—
even though the Shi‘a constitute the majority.
He is, as Prof. Fāḍil expressed, a father to all Iraqis, standing in defense of each one of them.
Prof. Fāḍil further emphasized that dialogue remains the preferred path to rapprochement:
communication with our Sunni brethren is ongoing, whether through direct meetings or other channels;
and our perspectives, he affirmed, are either identical or closely aligned in most fundamental matters.
Dialogue, he concluded, is the most fitting means for resolving any disagreement, should it arise.
