The Muslim Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC) was honored to participate in the international conference "Bridging Beliefs: Strengthening Interfaith and Interconvictional Dialogue for Democratic Europe", which brought together policymakers, faith leaders, civil society actors, academics, and local authorities to explore how interfaith and interconvictional dialogue can strengthen democratic societies across Europe.

As a partner in the EU Commission-funded Bridging Beliefs project, MJLC is committed to advancing cooperation, mutual understanding, and inclusive democratic processes. We were especially proud that MJLC members Imam Yahya Pallavicini and Chief Rabbi Bruno Fiszon contributed to the first panel on "The role of Interfaith and Interconvictional Dialogue and cooperation in fostering peace education and democracy."

Imam Yahya Pallavicini highlighted key challenges, including widespread ignorance about religions and the manipulation of faith in polarized contexts, while stressing the importance of both institutional cooperation and grassroots engagement to counter divisive narratives. Chief Rabbi Bruno Fiszon called for a shift in perspective to recognize religions as sources of peace rather than conflict, emphasizing their vital role in promoting ethical values, fraternity, and openness to diversity.

We were also pleased that MJLC Milan Ambassador Amina Croce contributed to the second panel on "Interfaith and Interconvictional Governance challenges and opportunities: From a global to a local perspective." She emphasized the important role of younger generations, noting both the potential of dialogue as a tool for mutual understanding and the risks posed by digital echo chambers that can limit exposure to diverse perspectives.

In an increasingly diverse and polarized Europe, this conference provided a valuable platform for dialogue, reflection, and action—exploring how interfaith engagement can contribute to peace education, social cohesion, inclusive governance, and democratic resilience.