Minister Petříček recalled the alarming recent escalation of faith-based tensions and incitement, including the deadly attacks in Paris, Nice and Vienna; and expressed his hope in new opportunities to come up with ideas for common actions toward de-radicalization, peace and unity. „We must help prevent and counter hate crimes and hate speech, but also the misinterpretation of events for advancing narrow political agendas,"said minister Petříček.He also underlined „the legitimacy of intercultural and interfaith dialogue in education, public awareness and daily life which has been instrumental in countering the many malevolent efforts in our shared history by those who like to misuse religious identity”.

Due to the covid-19 restrictions, the conference took place in the on-line form, which at the same time enabled an extraordinary participation of world-wide known speakers like Prof Gilles Kepel (France), Prof Peter Mandaville (USA) or Prof Ekmeleddin İhsanoǧlu (Turkey); besides several traditional conference partners - Iraqi Ambassador Sundus Albayraqdar, Turkish Ambassador Egemen Baǧiş and Apostolic Nuncio Charles Daniel Balvo. 

Most of the participants subscribed to the Conference ambition to proceed from a common starting point - crisis as an opportunity - towards a shared global responsibility and fresh concrete actions to cultivate the responsibility and simultaneously enhance the integrity of our societies. Unlike embarrassing populist or malign radical voices, they highly esteemed the „global village“ enriching and mutually inspiring potential while respecting - not ignoring - its diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

More information about the conference

Programme of the conference

Minister Petříček spoke at The International Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue Conference

Minister Petříček spoke at The International Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue Conference