Journeys of Hope: Europe, religions and asylum
June 10th, 6 pm - 8 pm
Teatro Litta, corso Magenta 24
The tragedy of the conflicts that affect wide Mediterranean areas reaches Europe’s shore on floating wrecks loaded with refugees. This is how a debate on reception and the asylum right begins: doesn’t Europe give up its democratic principles and humanistic tradition when it cannot protect the rights of those who flee war?
In this framework, religions have paved the way to talk about asylum, solidarity and respect of human rights; they provide and will be able to provide Europe with a soul and openness perspective, just when it runs the risk of losing them by pursuing border safety and migrant rejection.
Our speakers
ALGHANESH FESSAH
Lecturer from Milan of Eritrean origin, she has been cooperating with “Gandhi” NGO for years. This association works on the Israeli-Egyptian border to aid refugees that cross the desert fleeing the Horn of Africa and seeking asylum. She will explain us the outstanding work that she carries out as a Christian cooperating with the Muslim sheik Awwad Mohamed Ali Hassan. Thanks to her work, hundreds of refugees have been saved from Sinai traffickers, who would have killed them to foster the market of organ trafficking or kidnapped them to ask their families for a ransom.
RINALDO MARMARA
President of Caritas Turkey and member of the Turkish Latin community, he will talk to us about the Caritas work in Turkish refugee camps on the Syrian border, which helps Christian and Muslims fleeing conflicts in the Middle-East area.
KHEIT ABDELHAFID
Imam of Catania’s mosque and President of the Sicilian Islamic Community, he will present the experience of the Muslims living on this island, whose inhabitants cope with the tragedy of the refugees that reach their shore.
DIANE BARRAUD
Shepherd of the Canton of Vaud’s Evangelical Reformed Church, she will tackle the issue of asylum from a different viewpoint than the first landing place one. The focus will be on the destinations most refugees prefer: the North European Countries, where they can build their future.
PIERFRANCESCO MAJORINO
Municipality of Milan’s council member for Social Policies and Health Culture, he will describe how the city institutions are committed to giving asylum from the broader, Europe-oriented perspective of the city of Milan.
The debate will be followed by the music of conductor KARIM WASFI, director of the Baghdad National Symphonic Orchestra, who has recently performed upon the ruins caused by the attacks to his town, in order to reiterate that human hope on one hand and life and beauty ambition on the other hand are stronger than bombs - in cooperation with EMMA for Peace (Euro-Mediterranean Music Academy for Peace)
Moderator: Marco Tarquinio, Avvenire director
To confirm your participation write at: info@dialog-milano.org
Check Karim Wasfi video (part 1 - part 2)
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