Muslim Peacemaker Team Training in Kerbala
29 January 2005
By Maxine Nash

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) recently conducted a five-day
training for Muslim peacemakers at the request of a human rights
organization in Kerbala. The training was held in Kerbala at the
office of the human rights organization from January 22-26, 2005.
Four CPTers, Peggy Gish, Cliff Kindy, Maxine Nash, and Allan Slater
conducted the highly participatory training.

Each day of the training had a different focus. These included:
stories of non-violent peacemaking, the power of non-violence, the
spirituality of non-violence, planning for public actions, and on
the last day various smaller topics were covered including trauma
and self-care, working with media and human rights documentation.

In response to the stories and exploration of the power of non-
violence, participants asked the questions: "How did that work?"
and "Can we do that here?" They answered positively, "We can do it
here." The group also explored the roots of non-violence in the
Muslim tradition and pointed out to the CPTers that Islam has a firm
tradition of non-violence within the teachings of the Qu'ran and in
the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

During each day's session, the trainees had opportunities to
facilitate sessions, be the daily photographer, log keeper, time-
keeper, convener and process observer. The concept of assigning
roles for the day was new to the trainees and they greeted it with
great enthusiasm.

In the course of the training participants shared many stories of
suffering and trauma they experienced under Sadaam Hussein, during
the wars Iraq has been part of, including the most recent war with
the United States and the subsequent occupation. CPTers were
impressed with the fact that people who have endured much now feel
compelled to become peacemakers instead of trying to take revenge
for the wrongs done to them.

Muslim peacemakers and CPT are planning for future trainings for
other venues in and around Kerbala. Possibilities include training
at a university in Kerbala and in the surrounding cities of Najaf
and Hilla.