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‘Imam and Pastor’ Film Premiered in UK Parliament
06 December 2006
John Battle MP, the UK Prime Minister’s envoy to the faith
communities hosted the UK premiere of the documentary
film ‘The Imam and the Pastor’ in the House of Commons
before an invited audience which included MPs and Peers
on Tuesday 6th December. The Imam and Pastor in
question, Muhammad Ashafa and James Wuye, their flowing
Nigerian robes contrasting with the sober wood panelling
and flock wallpaper of the Parliamentary Committee Room,
answered questions after the film.
The reason for the interest in their story is that they
both led opposing armed gangs in defence of their
communities in the early ‘90s when economic difficulties
caused ethnic and religious conflict in their northern
Nigerian city of Kaduna. Pastor James lost his right
hand in one of those battles, and Imam Ashafa’s beloved
spiritual mentor and two of his relatives were killed.
Now the two men are co-directors of the Interfaith
Mediation Centre in Kaduna… How they got from one
position to the other, is the question the film sets out
to answer.
After the film, Imam Ashafa asked for a moment’s silence
in memory of David Channer who had the original
inspiration for the film, but who passed away in
September.
John Battle said the contrasting images in the film - of
mass graves and of joyful dancing at a formal
reconciliation ceremony organised by the two men - would
stay with him. ‘We are all asked to live in the same
place’, he said. ‘Our neighbours are those who are given
to us to build community with. This film says “It can be
done”! This is a very special story that needs to reach
every corner of all our communities.’
Imam Ashafa said, ‘Religion is a candle to light the
house or to burn down the house. It is an energy, and
like nuclear energy, it can be used for good or
destructive purposes. Our task is to see religion used
for positive purposes.’ Pastor James said, ‘Nigeria is a
very religious country. The conflict entrepreneurs use
faith as the medium to inspire violence. We’re using
faith to de-programme violence.’
In the 24 hours since they arrived, they were
interviewed on three BBC World Service radio programmes
and Radio 4’s Today Programme, with interviews to come
on BBC Five Live, Islam Channel, Channel S, Emel
Magazine and numerous others.
Following the parliamentary launch, Imam Ashafa and
Pastor James went to Liverpool for screenings at the
Town Hall hosted by the Lord Mayor and at Liverpool Hope
University.
First
Public Screening of 'The Imam and the Pastor' in UK
By
Peter
Riddell
9 December 2006
The film had its first public screening on December 9 before an audience
of nearly 300 people in the Friends House, one of
London's main venues for political and social meetings.
After the film, Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye
answered questions, several from people with pain in
their hearts.
A man of Pakistani origin was reacting to a recent
speech of the Prime Minister 'demanding that British
Muslims live by "our values" without defining those
values'. Ashafa responded, 'We all have lessons to learn
from others to give us a magnanimous heart. We need to
create space to understand each other better. Diversity
is a source of strength and not a threat.'
In answer to a comment from a Palestinian woman on the
dangers of fundamentalism, Ashafa said, 'Religion is a
positive tool, but there are texts that can be used to
incite people to genocide. Our story is about moving
from the vicious cycle to the virtuous cycle.' James
added, 'The crisis in the Middle East has a great impact
on Africa and Nigeria. We are very passionate about our
religions. Be careful in the global north what you say:
due to the Danish cartoons controversy, more people died
in Nigeria than anywhere else.'
A Somali woman said, 'In Somalia, everyone is Muslim,
but they are divided by clan and tribalism. People don't
communicate.' Again Ashafa turned the responsibility
back on the questioner. 'The challenge in Somalia is
very great, but you are the one who can bring change!
Intolerance leads to hate, to suppression, to
oppression, to demonisation, to war, to genocide. We
generalise the failure of one person to a whole
community. To remove the seed of genocide, deal with
stereotypes and prejudices.'
To another question about how they deal with theological
differences, Ashafa replied, 'Differences arise out of
ignorance of own tradition and of the other traditions.
We studied our scriptures together and found 70 values
in common and 25 areas of disagreement on core values
that cannot be compromised. We reject the word
tolerance because of its negative connotations. What
is needed is acceptance of the other for what he
is.'
Another Palestinian asked how, if they had a 'wound'
which is continuously bleeding, could they still do what
they are doing? James acknowledged that it was a
'Herculean' task. His severed hand was no longer
bleeding but he has to find someone to help him perform
even simple tasks. 'But I am still bleeding as I see
victims and even widows around me. It took me three
years to get over myself. I challenge you to follow your
heart and find a space in it for the others. Forgiveness
is the weapon of the courageous, and the enemy will
become your bosom friend and protector, because you will
give him what he cannot give.'
Congratulating the two men and the film production team, Rev
Ben Enwuchola, Anglican Chaplain to the Nigerian
Community in the UK said, 'I am proud that something
good is coming out of Nigeria and going out to entire
world'. Prof Dawud Noibi, President of the Council for
Nigerian Muslim Organisations, added, 'Crisis has been
transformed into reconciliation. It is a small starting
point for a greater reconciliation.'
The Chair, James Hore-Ruthven, concluded, 'Some people
call Africa a "problem continent". Frank Buchman, who
founded Initiatives of Change, held a lifelong vision
that it was from Africa that answers to the world's
needs would come. You are pioneers of the new
statesmanship which is needed for this century. Thank
you for coming to give us something - particularly as we
used to be your colonial masters!'
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