Security in Prayer: Creating Safe Spaces for Faith and Prayer as Part of Living Religious Freedom

On February 7, 2023, the Dialogue and Education Foundation, as part of the EU-funded Protone project, hosted a symposium in Berlin titled "Security in Prayer: Creating Safe Spaces for Faith and Prayer as Part of Living Religious Freedom." The event, held at Hotel Aquino in Berlin, brought together representatives from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities to discuss the protection of places of worship through interfaith dialogue. The symposium featured prominent speakers and highlighted the increasing need for security in religious sites amid rising attacks.

Key presentations included:

• Ercan Karakoyun, Chairman of the Dialogue and Education Foundation, emphasised the necessity of protecting sacred sites, citing recent attacks as evidence of growing threats.

• Professor Paul Weller (University of Derby) discussed the significance of religious sites as community resources and the shared responsibility to protect them across faiths.

• Dr. Isabell Diekmann (Bielefeld University) explored the prevalence of anti-Muslim racism in Germany and strategies to counteract it.

• Dr. Kai Hafez (University of Erfurt) critiqued the media's portrayal of Islam, which often reinforces negative stereotypes and hinders interfaith understanding.

The symposium concluded with discussions on best practices for protecting religious sites, including the importance of interfaith cooperation and community engagement. The House of One in Berlin was highlighted as a model for interreligious dialogue and collaboration, combining a synagogue, church, and mosque under one roof to foster mutual respect and security.

The Protone Symposium underscored the critical role of interfaith dialogue in ensuring the security of religious sites and promoting religious freedom across Europe.