Oasis 20

In the Balkans, it ispossible to have "a genuine exchange with those who are responsible for the Muslim community"

The tragic events of recent months have led to, and almost imposed, the subject of this edition of Oasis: violence and in particular religiously motivated violence.

Violence: between current affairs and the founding texts

If instances of religious conflict have fuelled the prejudice that monotheism is a factor for violence, the journey made by Christianity emphasises its irreversible leave-taking of violence committed in the name of God

René Girard’s mimetic theory offers a fundamental aid to understanding the nexus between violence, the sacred and the origin of different human cultures. It also paves the way for a challenge: how to found a way of living together without identifying a common enemy?

The new violence endured by the Christians of Iraq compels a dual observation: if it is the duty of the international community to defend their survival, it is also true that the power of the witness of Christians lies in their vulnerability

A vast repertoire of sources allows an understanding of the historical transformation of a defensive war into a warlike undertaking with imperialistic aims. A reading that challenges the extremist literature of militant Islamist groups and anti-Islamic groups.

The appearance of the Islamic State, which followed the season of al-Qa’ida, has confirmed the contagious character of a grave illness – extremism in the name of God. The atrocities committed by the Caliphate attract some groups of young Muslims but run the risk of leading religion to collapse.

The Nigerian terrorist movement has its roots in the 1970s when Islamic preaching against all Western influences became widespread. It adopted violent action to the point of the murderous tendency of today for various reasons, not least the corruption and the incapacity of those who were in power.

Sahel offers fertile terrain for the birth of various groups of jihadists who thanks to the widespread poverty and porous frontiers easily recruit fighters. But new preachers and Muslim movements have also emerged which, between collusion with terrorists and democratic ideals, are determining the future of this region.

From discrimination to participation. The Egyptian case demonstrates how, in a Arab-Islamic world that is in marked trouble, the involvement of Christians in political and social life is possible only through the rule of law and institutions that are not determined by confessional ties.

India. In a cultural fabric that was characterised by harmony and tolerance, factors of violence entered the scene. This violence exploded with especial virulence after the partition of the country in 1947. The intertwining of the politicisation of religion and exaggerated communalism led to a spiral of clashes between Hindus and Muslims.