Organizer: Southeast Asia Program, Comparative Muslim Societies Program, and the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University

Type/Location: In Person / Ithaca, NY

Description:

Join the Southeast Asia Program, the Comparative Muslim Societies Program, and the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University for a talk by Al Haj Khalifah U Aye Lwin, founding member of Religions for Peace Myanmar.

Myanmar has a track record of forging unity in multiplicity, and Muslims have been an integral part of Myanmar society since the Pagan dynasty. Rohingyas were, in fact, prominent citizens, just like other Myanmar Muslims from different origins. They were recognized as full-fledged Myanmar citizens even by the military before the coup. However, when the entire nation started to oppose despotic military dictatorship, the junta projected Islam as a danger to Burmese nationalism. Myanmar Muslims became soft targets and easy prey. Rohingyas were the hardest hit among the Myanmar Muslims. Their citizenship was stripped off, and tens of thousands of them were hounded out of the country. Genocide and ethnic cleansing were the order of the day. Rohingyas are targeted as a danger to Burmese Buddhist nationalism by the military, and native, often pious Myanmar Buddhists who have (often) been brainwashed and indoctrinated to hate them. Multifaith leaders in Myanmar were trying to alter the stereotyped rhetoric with the help of broad-minded leaders when the country was faced with yet another military coup. Nevertheless, faith-based leaders in Myanmar are determined and will continue to strive toward achieving this endeavor. 

About the Speaker:

Al Haj Khalifah U Aye Lwin serves as the Chief Convener for the Islamic Centre of Myanmar and is a founding member of Religions for Peace Myanmar. He has a long-running interest in Sufi traditions and serves as a Kalifa, or spiritual guide, in the Qadariya Aarliya Sufi order. He has authored and translated dozens of books on Islam and comparative religion and presented papers at seminars nationally and internationally. He is deeply involved in peacebuilding and conflict transformation in his native Myanmar. An educator by profession, Al Haj U Aye Lwin teaches physical education and serves on the Board of Management at the Diplomatic School in Yangon.

Registration Link:

To attend the event in person, please register here.