8 September 2015

The First Minister met with representatives from different faith groups and interfaith organisations to discuss the work of interfaith groups within our communities.

Since the 1970s Scotland has been growing Interfaith expertise and is highly regarded in the international interfaith community as being a leader.  Interfaith organisations promote mutual understanding of the teachings, traditions and practices of different faith communities.

The group also discussed the importance of faith in public life, interfaith dialogue and the support offered by faith communities to the on-going humanitarian crisis in southern Europe.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

At the weekend we witnessed faith groups working together as one voice to show their support to what is first and foremost a humanitarian crisis that requires all communities to work together to support those in desperate need.

I made clear during my emergency humanitarian summit last week that Scotland is willing to take our fair share of refugees to help some of the most vulnerable people in need.

Interfaith work and the contribution of faith groups is essential in transforming lives and building a stronger, fairer and equal Scotland. The overwhelming support we have seen from across Scotland over the past week shows willingness of the people of Scotland to help the most vulnerable arriving in Scotland and across the world.

By working together with all communities I want to see a safer, stronger and more inclusive society which we are all able to fully contribute to and benefit from.”

Read the joint statement from the Church of Scotland, the Catholic Church in Scotland, the Muslim Council of Scotland and the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities

List of attendees included:

Jeremy Fox – Religious Leaders Forum
Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche – Kagyu Samye Ling Buddhist Centre
Venerable K Sri Rewatha – Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara
Rt. Rev. Dr. Angus Morrison – Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Archbishop Mario Conti – Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
Rev. David Chillingworth – Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Sister Isabel Smyth  – Glasgow Sharing of Friends
Rabbi Kate Birggs – Glasgow Reform Synagogue
Rabbi Moshe Rubin – Giffnock & Newlands Synagogue
Surya Ji – Glasgow Hindu Temple
Shayk Sohaib Saeed – Religious Leaders Forum
Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi – Ahl ul Bayt Society
Trishna Singh – Sikh Sanjog
Dr Satwant Multani – Interfaith Scotland Board
Larry Blance – Interfaith Scotland Board
Dr Maureen Sier – Interfaith Scotland
Dr. Rose Drew – Interfaith Glasgow
Iain Stewart – Edinburgh Interfaith Association
Dr Liaquat Ali – Interfaith Scotland Board
Madhu Jain – Interfaith Scotland Board
Phil Lucas – Religious Society of Friends
Alan Kay – Interfaith Scotland Board
Shabir Begg – Ahl ul Bayt Society
Ani Lhamo – Kagyu Samye Ling Buddhist Centre
Ravinder Kaur Nijjar – Religions for Peace