TWO prominent religious leaders from Egypt, a Muslim and an Anglican, will speak next Monday at the inauguration of a programme looking at inter-religious relations in conflict-ridden societies.

The former Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Dr Ali Gomaa, 62, and Archbishop Mouneer Hanna Anis, 64, will be keynote speakers at this two-day event.

The new programme, known as the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP), will be launched by President Tony Tan Keng Yam next Monday. About 400 religious leaders, civil servants and students will attend the event.

The Straits Times understands that billionaire remisier Peter Lim has donated $3 million to support the SRP’s work.

… The SRP was set up last September by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

RSIS dean Barry Desker told The Straits Times that the new programme will study how peace can be promoted in multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies. “Societies are becoming more religiously diverse and the world has witnessed a resurgence of religion. In many instances, extremism and conflict have been carried out under the guise of religion.”