Admin General July 8, 2020

Think BiG Conference – Paktia

A conference on Peace, Liberty, and Tolerance  under the title of “Think Big” was held in Paktia Province by Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization (AELSO) in collaboration with national and international organizations.

The conference was held for one day at the Paktia Information and Culture Hall, and the participants were consisted of university students, religious scholars, university professors, civil and human rights activists, women’s rights activists and social activists.

The Picture showing the participants of this conference including university students, religious scholars, university professors, Civil society and Human Rights activists, Women's Right activists, Cultural activists and social workers.
The Picture showing the participants of this conference including university students, religious scholars, university professors, Civil society and Human Rights activists, Women’s Right activists, Cultural activists and social workers.

Speakers at the conference, according to pre-made schedules, spoke about the role of students, youth and local authorities in ensuring peace, freedom and tolerance in Afghanistan, as well as the compatibility of this ideas with the holy religion of Islam.

Speakers at the conference called for tolerance as a crucial building block to reach towards peace and prosperity in the country and stressed the need to promote tolerance in Afghanistan. Moreover, the conference participants expressed their support for peace, freedom and tolerance, and saw these components as a civic and social deterrent to extremism.

A shot from one of the conference's speakers
A shot from one of the conference’s speakers

In the second part of the conference, participants were divided into five balanced groups and discussed the causes of extremism, its consequences, and the different ways and methods to combat it in Afghanistan. They then shared the results of their teams with other groups and the outcomes of this and other programs will be published in a research book.

“Organizing of such conferences to promote ideas for peace, freedom and tolerance and in the fight against extremism in the country is very valuable,” said one of the conference participants, “and it’s very enlightening.”

A shot of the participants of this conference
A shot of the participants of this conference

Rahmatullah Erfan, a civil activist in Paktia province, said: “We are grateful for the fundamental and innovative program of Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization to promote peace, freedom and tolerance, and we expect these academic programs to continue in Paktia province as well as other provinces of the country to fight against extremism and to promote tolerance and pluralistic ideas.”

Rahmatullah Irfan one of Paktia Province’s civil society activists during his speech
Rahmatullah Irfan one of Paktia Province’s civil society activists during his speech

Moreover, in this conference the book “Islamic Foundations of a Free Society”, which was translated by Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization, were handed over to the participants which can act as a rich source to investigate the compatibility of Islamic ideas with free society values. At the end of the program the CDs “Ideas for Peace and Prosperity” were also given to the participants.

One of the conference participants receiving the "Ideas for peace & prosperity" CD
One of the conference participants receiving the “Ideas for peace & prosperity” CD

Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization is determined to hold such conferences in all provinces of Afghanistan in order to promote the ideas of coexistence and tolerance, peace and freedom, and opposing extremism.

Those interested in promoting peace, freedom, tolerance and the fight against extremism can join us here at Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization (AELSO) and take pride in participating in the Liberty Club and the AELSO Academy of this organization.

July 2nd, 2020