John L. Esposito - PhD Professor of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University

Religious tolerance, coexistence, pluralism and civil liberties today remainfragile both in Muslim and Western countries. The exponential increase ofIslamophobia in the West, and the rise of far right political parties with antiimmigrant and anti-Muslim agendas in Europe and America is at an all timehigh. At the same time the plight of religious minorities, who are marginalizedor under siege in some Muslim countries, underscore the critical need torestore the ethical and moral codes provided by religion as the foundation fordeveloping universal principles upon which to build a more just society. Inrecent years, Muslim scholars from Egypt to Indonesia advocated a religiouspluralism that is critical for coexistence and cooperation based on mutualunderstanding and respect. At the same time, The Bridge Initiative: ProtectingPluralism – Ending Islamophobia at Georgetown University’s Center forMuslim-Christian Understanding has brought together Muslim and Christianscholars and researchers who have documented and addressed the impact ofIslamophobia in the US and Europe. At the same time, we have interactedwith policymakers, religious leaders and the media in promoting newalternative narratives that enhance mutual understanding and respect

Religious pluralism, Muslim pluralists, Islamophobia, religious minorities