Muslim family (source: flickr.com)

For the ninth time the Catholic Church is celebrating the Day of Islam. It is held under the motto 'Together for the dignity of marriage and the family'.

The Day of Islam was set up by the Conference of Polish Bishops on the initiative of the Joint Council of Catholics and Muslims in Poland. The aim of the organisation is to promote dialogue, peace and understanding. The Councli is the only such body in Europe comprising also Muslims from other Central and East European countries.

Poland is very much away from the main stream as far as the issue of Christian Islamic relations is concerned. This country has a very small presence of the Islamic community ,though it is one of the oldest Muslim communities in Europe dating back to the Tartars. It is important that such a Day of Islam was set up in Poland with the aim of promoting  dialogue, understanding and overcoming stereotypes.

The celebrations of the day concentrated on a theme which is discussed by the participants after related fragments are read out from the Holy Bible and The Koran.

Click on the audio icon to listen to the report by Agnieszka Bielawska.