Ladies and Gentlemen,
we are pleased to introduce you to the first 'Muslim Jewish Conference' 2010 in Vienna. Please also find attached our Press Release as PDF.
«Our first step together creating the power to forge a link between possibility and reality. Because the pronunciation of our names is no barrier for friendships.»
The first ‘Muslim Jewish Conference’ 2010 is being held in Vienna from the 1st until the 6th of August. 60 students from all over the world with a common goal of establishing peaceful relations between both religions will participate. The conference consists of discussion committees, guest speakers, open dialogue panels and social events.
The idea for this project was born in Vienna by two Austrian students, Ilja Sichrovsky and Matthias Gattermeier, due to their experiences at international student conferences and driven by the desire to create cultural awareness between young aspiring Jewish and Muslim academics. Today, the ‘MJC’-committee harbours over 20 volunteers from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and America, including countries like Austria, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America.
Ilja Sichrovsky, founder and Secretary General of the MJC: “Representing the University of Vienna at numerous international student conferences, I have witnessed inevitable misunderstanding and prejudices between young Muslims and Jews at first hand. The ‘Muslim Jewish Conference’ was called to life, to be the first step together for young people creating the power to forge a link between possibility and reality. Because the pronunciation of our names is no barrier for friendships.”
The ‘Muslim Jewish Conference’ is officially endorsed by the ‘United Nations Alliance of Civilisations’ (UNAOC) and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project is partly financed by the ‘Karl Kahane Foundation’ as well as by private donors.
Our vision is to make the MJC an annual conference, set up in different countries each year and to provide a platform for real change in the interaction between Muslim and Jewish Communities. The participants represent a new generation of thinkers and upcoming opinion leaders who are connected by their joint believe in a new era of cooperation.
