Program for the first Module - EPIL

Module 3 - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Zenica
18/04/2008- 25/04/2008
"Conflict and the Potential for Pluralism -
Analysing the Use and Misuse of Religion"

For centuries Bosnia and Herzegovina nurtured traditions of tolerance and respect for its different ethnic and religious groups. However, in the last decade of the 20th century the country experienced a brutal conflict that divided people, seemingly along religious lines. How this could happen and how people are now reconstructing their lives and their country will be the focus of attention.

The module will introduce the history of Bosnia's multiethnic nationalism, analyse the historical background of its religious communities and examine how religion has been used both, to intensify conflict and to build peace. It will also explore what "respect for difference" actually means, how it is necessary for the development of democracy, and what has been achieved in the period after signing the Dayton Agreement. It will further focus on women's efforts to heal and rehabilitate in a post-conflict situation that left people wounded and traumatised.

Friday, April 18, 2008 - Sarajevo
Arrival in the afternoon
18:00-19:00
Welcome and short introduction to participants by the organizing committee
Azra Ceric, member of International Board of the EPIL Association
Jadranka Milicevic, member of the Academic team of EPIL
Sabiha Husic, member of the Academic team of EPIL
19:00
Dinner
After dinner A guided tour through the programme and how it relates to the reality of BIH;
introduction of the Learning Diary concept

Saturday, April 19, 2008 - Sarajevo
Religion in the History of Bosnia and Herzegovina
9:00-10:00
Morning Meditation-BIH group
10:00-11:00
Presentation in the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo,
Dr Prof Ismet Busatlic, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies:
Work of the Faculty, importance of theological education in the present context
11:00-11:15
Break
11:15-12:30
"Religious circumstances and conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina History"
Aladin Husic, MSc., Institute of Oriental studies in Sarajevo
12:30-15:00
Lunch at the Faculty of Islamic Studies
15:00-18:00
Collective visit to religious facilities (in groups of your choice):
- The Pravoslavna crkva (Old Orthodox church), the Pravoslavni muzej (Old orthodox museum), Milica Kaevic, Jadranka Milicevic and Svjetlana Perduv
- Begova Dzamija (Bey's mosque) and medresa, Aladin Husic, Emina Ceman, Almira Alic and Mirela Jazvin
- Katedrala (Catholic Cathedral) Ivo Markovic and Zdenka Kolak
- Jewish Synagogue, Elma Softic-Kaunitz
18:30
Visit to the Catholic church and introduction of the NGO, "Oci u oci"
(Face to Face ) by Ivo Markovic, and meeting with the Choir, " Pontanima"
(Protestant initiative)
If time permits there will be a short round of sharing the different experiences
after dinner

Sunday, April 20, 2008 - Sarajevo
Building Religious Peace in Post-Dayton Bosnia - Problems and Opportunities
8:30-9:00
Morning Meditation- Boldern group
9:00-10:00
"Religion, Ethnicity and Nationalism in Bosnia since 1990",
Alibašic Ahmed, Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo
10:00-10:15
Break
10:15-11:50
"Interreligious Dialogue and the process towards religious peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina"
Bozana Katava, The Interreligious Council in BiH
"The Women and dialogue, experiences, good practises and barrers", Milica Kaevic, Serbian Citizens Counseling of Sarajevo, Serbian cultural and Education NGO "Prosvjeta"
11:50-13:30
Lunch at the Faculty of Islamic Studies
13:30-15:30
"Role of the media within Interreligious Dialogue, and building Civil Society in post-Dayton Bosnia"
Marko Antonio Brkic, editor-in-chief of the Religious Program on BH radio 1-Catholic Church
Boško Toševic, Editor of the Religious Program on the media- Orthodox Church
Ekrem Tucakovic, Editor of the Religious Program on the media- Islamic community
15:30-17:00
Reactions in small groups, led by the Academic Team members, followed by a dialogue exercise in plenary.
17:00-17:15
Closing session
19:30
"A Common Word between Us and You"
Dialogue with the reis-ul-ulema Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Dr.Prof. Ismet Busatlic and students of FIS and dinner together in the restaurant at The Faculty of Islamic Studies. The dialogue will take up some of the issues raised in the "Open Letter and Call from Muslim Religious Leaders"

Monday, April 21, 2008 - Sarajevo
Religious Education in Public Education - Experiences and Challenges
8:30-9:00
Morning Meditation Vienna group
10:00-12:30
"Religious education in public schools and Universities: experiences and
Difficulties/challenges"
Zilka Spahic Šiljak, PhD, Religious Studies-Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the University of Sarajevo
Marko Oršulic, International multi-religion and intercultural Centre in Sarajevo
Dženana Trbic, Center for Interdisciplinary Study of the University of Sarajevo
12:30-16:30
Lunch and free time
15:30 -17:00
Showing of the film "Grbavica"
17:00-17:30
Conversation about film "Grbavica" with the director of the film, Jasmila Žbanic
18:00
Dinner at The Faculty of Islamic Studies, meeting and discussion with women
leaders of organizations in BIH, hosted by Azra Ceric, member of the EPIL Board

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - Srebrenica
A visit of Solidarity to "Women to Women"
8:00
Departure from Sarajevo to Srebrenica
11:00
Meet with Association of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa and pray together for the innocent victims
Memorial Center and Cemetery for the people who were killed in Srebrenica, in July 1995
11:30-15:00
Memories Srebrenica-genocide -reflection and symbolic action
15:00
Leave for Zenica
19:00
Dinner

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - Zenica
Rehabilitation and Healing: Preconditions for Building a Pluralist Society
9:00-9:30
Morning Meditation -Medica Zenica -Cologne group
9:30-12:30
"Rehabilitation and healing process in building a pluralist society: work on re-establishing relations and reconciliation"-women speak from experiences
Sabiha Husic, executive director Medica Zenica and member of AT of EPIL
Jadranka Milicevic, member of AT of EPIL
Rada Stakic, Professor at the Pedagogy Faculty in Zenica
12:30-15:00
Lunch in Medica Zenica
15:00-18.00
"Looking through women's eyes": Workshop about Feminism as a tool for analysis
(Reinhild Traitler-Espiritu, Teny Pirri-Simonian, Sabiha Husic)
18:00-19:00
(Optional) A guided evening walk through downtown Zenica: dinner and free time

Thursday, April 24, 2008 - Zenica
Building Peace in Local Communities
9:00-9:30
Morning Meditation -Medica Zenica -Beirut group
10.00 - 12.30
Round table "Religion and peace in everyday life" participants from the Islamic community, Orthodox Church, Catholic Church and Protestant community
12:30 - 14.00
Lunch and discussion together with participants: round table
15:00-17:30
What we have seen/heard: Evaluation, invitation to Module IV and preliminary information
19:00
The Party!

Friday, April 25, 2008 - Zenica
10:00
Farewell and departures from Zenica to Sarajevo

WHO IS WHO
Lecturers:
· Ms. Azra Ceric, International Board of the EPIL Association- Sarajevo, Srebrenica and Zenica
· Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Reis-ul-ulema in BIH
· Dr. Prof. Ismet Busatlic, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo
· Alibašic Ahmet, Magister at Faculty of Islamic sciences-Sarajevo University
· Aladin Husic, MSc., Professor of History and Oriental studies, Institute of Oriental studies in Sarajevo
· Ivo Markovic, Director of Inter-religious services, "Oci u oci" (Face to face)/ Professor at the Franciscan School of Theology, University of Sarajevo
· Marko Oršulic, International Multi-religious and Intercultural Centre in Sarajevo-IMIC
· Boško Toševic, Editor of the religious program on the media-Orthodox Church
· Ekrem Tucakovic, Editor of the religious program on the media-Islamic community.
· Marko-Antonio Brkic, Editor-in-chief of the Religious Program on BH radio 1, former Executive Secretary of the Justice and Peace commission of the Bishops' Conference of BiH.
· Zilka Spahic-Siljak has completed her PHD Thesis on "Women, Religion and Politics: impact of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim interpretations on the women's status in public life and politics in BiH, Serbia", former Fellow at the Department of Religious Studies, Arizona State University, to develop syllabi for postgraduate religious studies at the University of Sarajevo, in Human Rights and Religion and Gender and Religion).
Milica Kajevic, Member of "Women to Women", works for the Serbian Cultural and Educational NGO, "Prosvjeta". She is also a member of the Serbian Citizens Council of Sarajevo, and a member of the Independent Intellectuals "Circle 992"
Bozana Katava, The Interreligious Council in BiH
· Elma Softic-Kaunitz, Jewish Synagogue
· Dženana Trbic, Center for Interdisciplinary Study of the University of Sarajevo
· Hajra Catic, President, Association of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa
· Nura Begovic, member, Association of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa
· Rada Stakic, Professor at the Pedagogy Faculty in Zenica
· Jadranka Milicevic, peacekeeper, feminist and activist for women's human rights, member of the International Peace Network, "Women in Black", Hundred Heroines of the World Award, 1998. She is a member of the Academic Team of EPIL
· Sabiha Husic, Executive Director of WTC Medica Zenica, Theologian/Psychotherapist in WTC Medica Zenica. She is a member of the Academic Team of EPIL
· Dr. Reinhild Traitler-Espiritu, Co-Director of EPIL, formerly Director of the Protestant Academy Boldern, Zürich
· Teny Pirri-Simonian, M.Sc., Co-Director of EPIL , formerly Head of the Office of Ecumenical
Relations, World Council of Churches

Organising Committee/Project Leadership/Academic Team (AT)
Sabiha Husic, Executive Director of WTC Medica Zenica / AT
Jadranka Milicevic, member of the Academic Team of EPIL
Sule Türk, Forum of Islamic Women in Austria/AT
Rifa'at Lenzin, Islamic scholar, Zürich/AT
Dr. Emel Brestrich, Germany Turkey, Mathematician/AT

(Friday, 18.04.2008)
Conflict and Potential for Pluralism

Welcome Address
By
Azra Ceric

It is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you and to wish you a good stay among us here in the city of Sarajevo, the city of good people.
I believe that the project, "Learning to live in a Multi-faith Europe is the flame of Hope.
I say that because Sarajevo is the city in which you can hear this living story of four candles.
The first candle said, "I am Peace, but the world is full if anger and fighting. Nobody can keep me lit."
Then the flame of Peace went out completely.
Then the second candle of Faith said: "I am Faith, but it seems to me that I am no longer appreciated." And a breeze softly blew out Faith's flame.
Then the third candle of Love said, "I am Love, but people don't understand my importance, so they simply put me aside. They even forget to
love those who are nearest to them. I have not the strength to stay lit." And waiting no longer, Love's flame went out.
But fourth candle of hope said: "I am Hope. Together we can relight the other candles. The flame of Hope should never go out from human life.
With Hope each of us can live a life with peace, faith and love."
I see you here with the candle of Hope, which can relight in all of us the flame of peace, the flame of faith and the flame of love for Sarajevo,
for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for Europe.
There is enough space for all of us in this world with our differences and our similarities, our fears and our hopes, our pains and our joys.
If the Twentieth Century started and ended with the war in Sarajevo, it is time now that the city of Sarajevo become a symbol of world peace
through all centuries to come.
Indeed, Sarajevo is a candle of Hope that is capable of relighting the most important candle of all, the candle of trust, because without
the candle of trust among people, nations, religions and cultures, there can be no life on our Planet.
And that is what I wish for the Third Module in Sarajevo - the flame of Hope that will relight the flame of Peace, the flame of Faith,
t he flame of Love for our neighbor and ultimately the flame of trust in God and humanity.
May God help us towards such a noble goal.