Washington hosts roundtable on Multiculturalism
Washington, March 7, AZERTAC
A roundtable discussion on “Multiculturalism and Peacebuilding” was held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C..
The event gathered together diplomats, government representatives, civil society leaders, academics, and religious leaders to discuss the role of multiculturalism in promoting peace.
In her remarks, Professor Hoda Mahmoudi, director of the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, noted that the event examines the efforts of several nations—including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, and Kenya—to promote peaceful and cohesive societies through the recognition and acceptance of cultural and ethnic diversity. She emphasized that these countries offer valuable examples demonstrating that, when carefully nurtured, diversity can become a source of strength rather than division. The experiences presented at the event provide important insights into how multiculturalism can contribute to social cohesion and peace.
Iranian-American expert Sohrab Sobhan noted that they had gathered at the Library of Congress to highlight and present to the international community the multicultural structure and religious tolerance of Azerbaijan, as well as the experiences of other countries. He portrayed Azerbaijan as a remarkable country where Jews live peacefully alongside Christians and Muslims.
In his address, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, Sahib Naghiyev, noted that opposing multiculturalism, declaring it a failure, or working against it would push the world toward renewed disasters and tragedies. He stressed that campaigns against multiculturalism contribute to the spread of xenophobia and racism, descrbing multiculturalism as a guarantee of peace.
Naghiyev emphasized that Azerbaijan has historically been a homeland for representatives of diverse peoples and religions.
The event continued with representatives from Bahrain, Cambodia, and Kenya, who shared insights into their countries’ multicultural experiences and discussed its role in building peace.
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