News Alert |

This flag-raising event celebrates the United Nations’ World Interfaith Harmony week, which is organised by the Ballarat Interfaith Network (BIN). 

World Interfaith Harmony Week, first established in 2011, is traditionally celebrated in the first week of February.  

It began after the United Nations endorsed a proposal from King Abdullah II of Jordan, which aimed to bring Christians and Muslims into closer dialogue. It now extends to encourage harmonious dialogue between people of all religions. 

Ballarat Interfaith Network’s flag will be raised in support of the world-wide message and intent of this special week – to call on all people to respect each other’s differences and personal beliefs. 

The City of Ballarat and the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council (BRMC) are partnering with BIN to celebrate this declaration of the need for interfaith respect and harmony.  

The event will also include members from the Islamic Society of Ballarat, the Baha’i faith, House of Welcome, Sisters of Mercy, Ballarat Hebrew Congregation, Ballarat ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ballarat Indian Association and representatives of Ballarat’s Anglican and Catholic churches. 

In addition to the flag-raising ceremony, Ballarat Library will host an interfaith display from 2-9 February to showcase many of the main religions in Ballarat, such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, the Baha’i faith, Hinduism and Sikhism. A film screening of The Kite Runner based on the best-selling book of the same title written by Khaled Hosseini will take place tomorrow, Tuesday February 5, at the Sisters of Mercy convent, 151 Victoria Street, Ballarat East at 7pm. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh says it’s vital we create a community where people are free and at peace to practise their religion, without fear or any adverse consequences. 

“Ballarat is an inclusive community. We welcome those of other faiths and those from other cultures,” she says. 

“We will work together so everyone in our community knows that they are welcome, they are respected, safe and they are free to observe their faith.”