SHIRA FENYES
News Writer

On March 16, the University of Saskatchewan will host its first ever Women’s Interfaith Symposium.

The gathering will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in Arts 143 featuring a panel of five religious women from the Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Catholic and Christian faiths. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association organized the event with the Religious Studies Students’ Union.

The event’s intriguing theme, “Misconceptions of our Faith,” will open up a dialogue between the diverse group of women. Bushra Amjad, a member of the Women’s Association sees this exchange between women as important to interfaith understanding.

“This is an opportunity to discuss and recognize the misunderstandings, myths or stereotypes that are out there in each faith,” she said.

Each speaker will focus on a few areas of her faith which she believes to be misinterpreted by mass media.

“This is an attempt to challenge those stereotypes and present the real views, real women that challenge these,” Amjad explained.

The third year student is passionate about this collaboration and believes that it’s a small step towards “religious harmony.”

The organizers hope to draw a large crowd of women. The speaker series will be followed by a question period, refreshments and a chance to browse display tables.

Men will not be turned away from the event, but the focus will be on female perspectives. The goal is to provide a women-only dialogue between the Saskatoon religious communities.

According to Amjad, this is only the beginning of this inter-religious dialogue.

“These events will continue by addressing different issues that arise within the faiths of community and society,” she explained.

This event will strive to begin a tradition at the U of S — promoting “peace and understanding between the major world religions.”

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