A three-day conference on religious tolerance in Sierra Leone opens today in the northern town of Makeni. Organised by the catholic-owned University of Makeni (UNIMAK), it will bring together religious leaders from across the country to look at the threat posed by religious conflicts in especially Mali and the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria, and in the Central Africa Republic, according to Rev Fr Dr Joseph Turay Vice Chancellor of the university.
Speaking to Politico, he said some members of the public had expressed concern lately over the rise in radical preaching by some Muslim and charismatic church preachers which he said the conference would look at.
He said Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea had a rich culture of religious tolerance which he said must be maintained and not influenced by sectarian violence that had beset some countries in the region.
"We must strengthen our religious tolerance and not take it for granted", the Rev Fr said, adding "we don't want to underestimate the need for dialogue especially between Islam and Christianity".
(C) Politico 01/05/14
