Latest news with #PrinceElHassan
Jordan Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Prince El Hassan calls establishing platform for dialogue, bridging divides in Mashriq
HRH Prince El Hassan, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies, on Thursday presides over the closing ceremony of the conference of 'Christians in the Arab Levant: Aspirations for Unity and Enlightenment (Petra photo) AMMAN — HRH Prince El Hassan, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies, on Thursday presided over the closing ceremony of the conference titled 'Christians in the Arab Levant: Aspirations for Unity and Enlightenment'. The event was attended by prominent Christian religious leaders from the region, as well as a distinguished group of Muslim and Christian intellectuals, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. In his address outlining the conference's recommendations, Prince El Hassan emphasised the importance of renewing the discourse, spirit and values of the Arab Renaissance in the Mashriq. He stressed the need to build a regional model and mindset rooted in dialogue and stability as a foundation for continuity. Prince El Hassan also underscored the importance of establishing a platform for dialogue and communication in the region to reach a shared and creative common ground. He noted that enlightenment and unity in the Mashreq require collective will and the development of a roadmap for elite and grassroots meetings that focus on communication and bridging divides. At the conclusion of the conference, and based on the discussions and interventions that followed, participants condemned the ongoing killing of innocent civilians and the systematic destruction of hospitals, schools, universities, and places of worship in Gaza and the West Bank. They stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire and for providing support to the Palestinian people. Participants also condemned the attacks on the city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, which, they said, hold deep spiritual significance for believers across the Arab Mashriq and the world. The final session of the conference highlighted key recommendations, foremost among them the importance of building on Islamic documents issued by Al Azhar Al Sharif to strengthen Muslim-Christian relations, and advancing the Document on Human Fraternity initiated by His Holiness Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb. The conference also recommended the promotion of values of dialogue and altruism in national educational initiatives by reformulating school and university curricula, and enhancing interfaith understanding through human dialogue among followers of different religions. Recommendations concluded with a call to unify efforts in promoting citizenship rights and the values of diversity, pluralism and acceptance of difference. They also stressed the need to strengthen the presence of all people of the Mashriq and reaffirm that their destinies are intertwined, thereby bolstering Christian and Muslim resilience in the region and reinforcing their attachment to their homelands. The conference called for viewing the Arab Mashriq's diversity as a blessing rather than a burden, urging all countries in the region to enact legislation that improves the management of this diversity, and to work towards developing a Parliament of Cultures that reflects the voice of the people and safeguards the right to life and the rights of future generations.
Jordan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Prince El Hassan attends closing of regional interfaith conference with call for peace, coexistence
HRH Prince El Hassan, President of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, on Thursday attends the closing ceremony of the conference titled 'Christians in the Arab Levant and the Aspirations of Unity and Enlightenment' (Petra photo) AMMAN — HRH Prince El Hassan, President of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS), on Thursday attended the closing ceremony of the conference titled 'Christians in the Arab Levant and the Aspirations of Unity and Enlightenment,' which brought together several prominent Christian leaders. Attended by Muslim and Christian intellectuals, the event concluded with a call for interfaith dialogue, coexistence, and regional stability. Prince El Hassan emphasised the importance of cultivating a regional model rooted in dialogue and 'stability for sustainability,' according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. Reviewing the two-day conference's recommendations, Prince El Hassan stressed that enlightenment and unity in the Mashreq require collective will and the development of a roadmap for both elite and grassroots initiatives focused on communication and bridge-building. The final recommendations called for building on key Islamic declarations issued by Al Azhar to enhance Muslim-Christian relations, and for further developing the 'Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together' initiative, launched by Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed El Tayeb. Drawing on discussions during the conference, participants condemned the killing of civilians and the deliberate destruction of hospitals, schools, universities, and places of worship in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. They also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and denounced the ongoing violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites in Occupied Jerusalem. Christian leaders who participated in the conference included Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem; Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch; Catholicos Aram I, head of the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia; Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church; and Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian of the Armenian Catholic Church.
Jordan Times
08-05-2025
- Science
- Jordan Times
Princess Sarvath Inaugurates conference on learning difficulties, announces key educational initiatives
Under the patronage of HRH Princess Sarvath El Hassan, with HRH Prince El Hassan in attendance, the second International Scientific Conference on Learning Difficulties: 'Current Challenges and Future Prospects' was inaugurated on Wednesday (Petra photo) AMMAN — Under the patronage of HRH Princess Sarvath El Hassan, with HRH Prince El Hassan in attendance, the second International Scientific Conference on Learning Difficulties: 'Current Challenges and Future Prospects' was inaugurated on Wednesday, with the participation of experts and researchers from Jordan and the Arab world. The event was organised by Princess Sarvath Community College's (PSCC) National Centre for Learning Difficulties. In her opening speech, Her Royal Highness highlighted the centre's key achievements, including the training of more than 1,500 teachers in coordination with the Ministry of Education and the diagnosis of over 11,500 students with learning difficulties using the latest diagnostic tools and assessment tests since the Centre's establishment in 1992, according to a statement from PSCC. She also announced the launch of the Arabic version of the WISC-5 (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition), the statement said, adding , 'This version has been adapted and standardized for the Jordanian context and the Ministry of Education curricula, under license and exclusive rights from the publisher (Pearson) to the college. The Princess also announced the release of a new assessment tool designed to evaluate learning difficulties in the English language, 'the first of its kind in Jordan and the region.' The centre had previously issued diagnostic tools for Arabic language and mathematics. The conference saw the signing of an agreement and memorandum of understanding between PSCC and the Sharjah Centre for Learning Difficulties to jointly develop Arabic language and mathematics assessment tools tailored to the curricula of the United Arab Emirates, according to the statement. The conference produced a number of scientific and practical recommendations, focusing on the importance of enhancing the training of specialized teachers and diagnostic experts in alignment with the Economic Modernisation Vision and the Ten-Year Inclusion Education Plan launched by the Ministry of Education, aimed at ensuring a fair and diverse educational environment.
Jordan Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Prince El Hassan opens conference on Arab Christians in Mashriq
HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal, Chairperson of the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (RIIFS), on Wednesday attends the opening ceremony of the conference titled 'Christians in the Arab East: Insights of Unity and Illumination (Petra photo) AMMAN — HRH Prince El Hassan, President of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS), on Wednesday inaugurated the 'Christians in the Arab Levant and the Aspirations of Unity and Enlightenment' conference, organised by the institute. In his address, Prince El Hassan stressed that freedom of belief and full, equal citizenship are the cornerstones of a modern, inclusive society, underlying the necessity of acknowledging the legitimacy of pluralism in the Levant, which is considered the 'Levant of the Levantines,' and of upholding the right to difference and full equality among its citizens, based on a solid foundation of citizenship, partnership, and solidarity in the face of polarization and hatred." Prince El Hassan underscored the importance of cultural and human dialogue among followers of different religions and of strengthening shared values to foster a cooperative independence in the Levant, while reaffirming the common humanity of its people. The Prince also noted that developing a shared understanding of regional policies in the Mashriq is an urgent need to preserve the Levant's balance amid today's turbulent world. Highlighting the region's diversity and centrist worldview, he affirmed that Islam is rooted in justice, equality, and the protection of the rights of all citizens regardless of race, gender, or faith. Prince El Hassan also referred to the Sykes-Picot Agreement as a prelude to further religious and sectarian fragmentation. The opening session featured the participation of several prominent Christian leaders, including Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem; Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch; Catholicos Aram I, head of the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia; Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church; and Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian of the Armenian Catholic Church. Patriarch Theophilos III praised His Majesty King Abdullah's role in interfaith dialogue and protection of holy sites in Jerusalem, warning of the demographic, economic, and violent challenges facing Christians in the Middle East, particularly in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where Christians continue to hold on to their homeland. Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II highlighted the historical coexistence and shared heritage of the region's peoples. He noted that Christians and Muslims co-authored the Arab civilization from the 7th century onward, especially through the contributions of Christian and Syriac scholars during the Abbasid era. Catholicos Aram I said religious and cultural tolerance is now a necessity rather than a choice, calling for a new, context-sensitive dialogue framework and warning against the politicization of religion. He emphasized the need to transition from dialogue to peaceful coexistence amid regional religious and cultural diversity. Patriarch Younan called for strengthening values of brotherhood and coexistence, asserting that Christianity is deeply rooted in the culture of the East and that enlightenment is essential for resisting extremism. Patriarch Minassian expressed appreciation for the generosity of the Jordanian people and the Hashemite leadership in welcoming Christians, including Armenians at the onset of the last century and Iraqi and Syrian Christians fleeing the Daesh terror group's violence.
