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Religion in Society- The Albanian Model of Religions Cohabitation in Diversity

Experiences along the history has demonstrated that group majorities in society are source of oppression, exclusiveness, conflicts and social segregations.  Instead, in Albania there is another reality, bringing progressive experience where majority (65% of Muslims), offers a model of cohabitation in diversity, with integrity, peace and solidarity with groups in minority.

Solidarity, integrity, cohabitation in diversity, peace and humanity, were the   key words and the cornerstones of the EU foundation after the two Second World Wars and permanent experiences of wars between its main blocks and actors.  Even nowadays Europe still behaves lack of a full integrity, solidarity, peace and cohabitation, while we meet the presence of populism, Russian aggression to Ukraine. Also, Israeli is demonstrating extremist behaviors   causing conflictual situation based in ethnic, cultural and religious differences of social groups.

In confront to this situation in Albania quite inside of Europe there is another model/ reality of community cohabitation in diversity, where integrity, peace and solidarity is a reality, and commonly accepted as part of social behavior and its intrinsic societal culture. The Albanian Religious communities and the society in a whole bring this experience as a “Must to” a real “role model” society to be followed everywhere beyond the Europe.  In this very present reality nearly 65% of population is composed of Muslim believers, around 15- 20% Christian Orthodox believers, 10 % of Catholic believers as well as of other realities.

Background

ICID Albania has permanently contributed through collaborative initiatives based on a cross stakeholder’s approach, starting from 1999.  Religious leaderships and their respective religious communities have been one of the main cornerstone actors to our initiatives, based on their particular trustable power in the society, behaving cohabitation in diversity even in a conflictual political situation, addressing progressive messages to the Albanian and regional societal challenges. Across the country in series collaborative initiatives on good governance, progressive politics, decentralization of powers, youth initiatives, territorial developments, art, culture, heritages and environments, the religious leadership have been a prominent voice addressing progressive perspectives to the present and future for the country and Western Balkans. Lastly on May 2019, ICID Albania successfully realized the First Edition of the integrated event Religion in Society – The Albanian Model of Religious Cohabitation in Diversity” in partnership with Albanian National Museum of History, all five national religious’ leaderships, local authorities as well as with the Albanian National Archive Directory.

The integrated week was composed of four different but integrated activities:

Exhibitions on the Albanian values of religious cohabitation(600M2);

Open Public Promotional Commitments of the Albanian religion’s leadership

Community Grouped exchanges visits

International Scientific Conference

The Second Edition

ICID Albania aims to organize the Second Integrated Week of the Albanian Model of Interfaith Cohabitation in Diversity, on the European Week/ Month from 4-11 May, 2025.

Across the proposed week (European Week 4-10 May 2025), several integrated activities will take place in 3 (three) administrative centers/cities of the Albanian territory. These activities will be focused mainly but not limited on the following directions:

In different symbols centers of interfaith cohabitation in integrated venues, four actions of activities will take place simultaneously: 

  1. Open Public Promotional Commitments of the Albanian religion’s leadership.
  2. All 5(five) local and national leaders of all the Albanian religious faiths will address publicly their commitments to permanently consolidate the interfaith cohabitation and contribute to empathy of the society across the country in local and central level. National and local governments representatives, politicians, elected representatives, media and civil society representatives will be partner in this activity.
  3. Exhibitions on the Albanian values of religious cohabitation in diversity with case study of religious cohabitation in territorial level. An online platform will be established in order to collect and promote the Albanian values of religious cohabitation in diversity through different findings at territorial level.
  4.  International Scientific Conference& local symposiums.  The culture of Religious Cohabitation versus culture of conflicts in the contemporary society. The Albanian Case and the way ahead!
  5. Grouped exchanges visits.  visitors composed of participants from all different religious communities will exchange visits to religious institutions and symbolic places of respective faith institutions.

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