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‘When faith institutions remain neutral in the face of oppression, they become part of the problem. It is not enough to acknowledge injustice; we must confront it in all aspects necessary’ – Noku Katom, Abraham Goes Global
By NONTOBEKO AISHA MKHWANAZI
Throughout history, interfaith dialogues have been seen as instrumental vehicles of fostering understanding and cooperation within communities. But when faced with grave injustices both locally and globally, do these conversations translate into meaningful action or are they merely a diplomatic exercise that fails to challenge the status quo?
This question took centre stage at an interfaith dialogue held in Cape Town on January 28, 2025, hosted by the International Peace College South Africa (IPSA), Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Theology, and the Abraham Goes Global exchange programme (AGG) from the Polin Institute in Finland. The event focused on faith-based responses to injustice, particularly in relation to Palestine, calling on interfaith communities to move beyond rhetoric and toward tangible activism.
In an interview, IPSA co-founder and lecturer, Shaikh Ihsaan Taliep, highlighted that interfaith gatherings must serve a greater purpose than symbolic discussions. He stressed that dialogue must go beyond surface-level exchanges and instead be a force for change.
‘It’s time for us to use our collective faith to challenge the systems of injustice we see in the world today. If we don’t act, we betray the very essence of what our faith teaches us,’ he stated.
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He further emphasised that faith communities have a responsibility to actively pursue justice. ‘Dialogue alone is not enough. We must go further through education, activism and lobbying to ensure that justice is not merely spoken about but actively pursued,’ he added.
The event featured several academic presentations that called for the world to seek justice for human suffering beyond just talks.
Under the theme, ‘A Maqasid al-Shariah (objectives of Islamic law) response to address the dehumanisation, oppression and genocidal suffering experienced by the dispossessed Palestinian people over the past century’, Shamila Abrahams, an IPSA postgraduate student, presented her research on ‘The systemic dehumanisation of the Palestinian people, outlining the horrific impact of long-term oppression on a nation’.
‘Dehumanisation is a strategy, not just a consequence of conflict. When people are stripped of their humanity, their suffering becomes easier to justify and ignore. What Maqasid al-Shariah, then calls for is for humanity to stand for truth and justice,’ she explained.
In response, Noku Katom from AGG added that faith communities must actively counter these injustices.
‘When faith institutions remain neutral in the face of oppression, they become part of the problem. It is not enough to acknowledge injustice; we must confront it in all aspects necessary,’ she said.
Shaheed Esau, an IPSA student, explored how Islamic legal principles align with global human rights efforts in addressing dehumanisation.
He stressed that Maqasid al-Shariah is centred on justice, dignity and the preservation of life, stating, ‘If we do not apply these principles to global injustices, then we are failing in our responsibility.’
His analysis was met with a call from Mahle Msila of AGG, urging faith communities to implement these principles in concrete ways.
‘Frameworks of justice mean nothing if they are not translated into real action. It is not enough to analyse oppression; we must actively work to dismantle it,’ Msila said.
During the event, Associate Professor in Missiology at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Theology, Professor Xolile Simon, highlighted that ‘if our engagement with injustice ends at discussions, then we are merely spectators to suffering. True faith demands that we take a stand.’
In my own presentation, I challenged the way many mainstream media outlets, both locally and globally, distort the Palestinian struggle. I took up this theme because I maintain that media representation plays a crucial role in upholding human dignity.
Media has the power to legitimise or erase suffering. When Palestinians or anyone in the world are depicted as aggressors rather than victims, their reality is systematically denied. Therefore, I propose a Maqasid Al-Sharia based media response to the suffering of humanity, that will place justice and truth above anything.
Veliswa Ntsume from AGG commended my input outlining that it resonates with her as a Christian and also added that faith-based organisations need to play a more active role in countering misinformation.
‘If religious communities do not challenge false narratives, they allow oppression to continue unchecked. Controlling the narrative is part of the struggle for justice,’ Ntsume said.
Faiq Salie, an IPSA student, examined the destruction of Palestinian educational institutions, describing it as an act of scholasticide, a deliberate attempt to erase a people’s history, identity and future.
‘Scholasticide is not just about demolishing buildings, it is about erasing a people’s history, identity and future. Denying access to education is a deliberate act of subjugation,’ Salie stated.
Memme Holmström from AGG responded by questioning whether interfaith efforts were doing enough to safeguard education in conflict zones.
‘If we believe in education as a tool for liberation, then faith communities must take a stronger stand against the destruction of knowledge,’ she argued.
Professor Mika Vähäkangas, Director for Theological Research at the Polin Institute, emphasised the urgency of action and expressed his gratitude for the space and stressed that there need to be more events of this calibre.
As the event concluded, a sobering reflection emerged – interfaith communities are at a crossroads. Do they remain at setting the theoretical principles in their discussions, or do they become active participants in meaningful resistance? The message from the participants was clear: interfaith communities must decide whether they will remain passive observers or become active participants in the fight for justice.
