International Conference

Protect and Secure Worship

Protecting and Securing our Religious Heritage through Multisectoral Collaboration

Tuesday 25 April 2023 | 10:00 – 15:30 EET

Organisers

Hybrid format:

AGENDA

Registrations and welcoming with coffee & snacks

Conference Opening Speeches

-Demetris Hadjisofocli, CEO, CSI, Cyprus

-Panayiota Constanti, PROSECUW Project Coordinator, CSI, Cyprus

-Andrew Staniforth, PROTECTOR Project Coordinator, SAHER Europe, Estonia

Panel 1

‘Protecting Places of Worship: Sharing European Stories and Experiences’

Moderator: Dr Eliza Patouris, RESET, Cyprus

Panelists:

  • Tamara Muñoz, DG Home, European Commission, Belgium
  • Panayiota Constanti, PROSECUW Project Coordinator, CSI, Cyprus
  • Andrew Staniforth, PROTECTOR Project Coordinator, SAHER Europe, Estonia
  • Kaashif Awan, SOAR Project Coordinator, EFI, Ireland
  • Edoardo Mattiello rep. of SHIELD Project Coordinator, Fondazione Amici della Cattedrale di Novara, Italy
  • Marcin Podogrocki, PROSPERES Project Coordinator, University of Lodz, Poland

Parallel Workshops

Workshop 1

'Securing our places of worship - strengthening multistakeholder cooperation and policing in the EU’

Workshop 1 will present best practices, strategies and tools for effective collaboration and synergies among European Police Forces so as to best secure our places of worship.

Facilitator: Meredydd Hughes, SAHER Europe, Estonia

Contributions:

  • Dr. Rafał Batkowski (police colonel ret.), University of Lodz, Poland
  • Daniel Jacobsson & Nina Lindhe, The Swedish Police Authority, Sweden
  • Fiene Flos, Antwerp Police, Belgium
  • Eugene M OLeary & Eileen Connolly, Ireland’s National Police and Security Service, Ireland
  • Chrysostomos Chrysostomou (Counter-Terrorism Dept.), Cyprus Police, Cyprus

 

Workshop 2

‘Protecting our Places of Worship: Bringing our Communities Together’

Workshop 2 will present European networks, concepts, and trainings, aiming to enhance the communication and collaboration among the communities for an effective protection and security within the society.

Facilitator: Dr José Paulo Oliveira, Lusófona University, Portugal

Contributions:

  • Jacek Purski, Institute of Social Safety, Poland & Radicalisation Awareness Network, EU
  • Dr Luca Guglielminetti, Universities of Bergamo, Bari and Portsmouth & Radicalisation Awareness Network, EU
  • Jordi Mallarach, Future for Religious Heritage, EU
  • Said Aini & Pia Ziyout, Klausenhof Academy, Germany

 

Workshop 3

‘Protecting and Securing in Practice: Tools and Services’

Workshop 3 will present hands-on, developed tools, systems and services available to the community so as to proactively protect and secure our places of worship.

Facilitator: Dr Elisa Ricci, FBK, Italy

Contributions:

  • Dr Thorsten Kruse, University of Münster, Germany
  • Marcin Podogrocki, University of Lodz, Poland
  • Kaashif Awan, EFI, Ireland

Break with Coffee & Finger Food

Reporter on the 3 Workshops

  • Anastasia Liopetriti, CSI, Cyprus (Workshop 1)
  • Kyriaki Chatzipanagiotou, CSI, Cyprus (Workshop 2)
  • Emily Psara, CSI, Cyprus (Workshop 3)

Panel 2

‘Opening the Dialogue for a Multiagency Response towards Religious Freedom’

Moderator: Dr Eliza Patouris, RESET, Cyprus

Panelists:

  • Jacek Purski, Institute of Social Safety & Radicalisation Awareness Network, Poland
  • Dr Thorsten Kruse, University of Münster, Germany
  • Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis, CEMES, Greece
  • Dr José Paulo Oliveira, Lusófona University, Portugal
  • Dr Massimo Abdellah Cozzolino, Europe Islamic Association, Italy
  • Dr Luca Guglielminetti, Universities of Bergamo, Bari and Portsmouth & Radicalisation Awareness Network, Italy
  • Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, Cyprus
  • Dr Carlotta Carbone, Transcrime - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

Concluding Remarks

Policy Recommendations as Key Take-Aways

  • Panayiota Constanti, PROSECUW Project Coordinator, CSI, Cyprus
  • Andrew Staniforth, PROTECTOR Project Coordinator, SAHER Europe, Estonia
  • Kaashif Awan, SOAR Project Coordinator, EFI, Ireland
  • Andrea Zitter, SHIELD Project Coordinator, SYNYO, Austria
  • Marcin Podogrocki, PROSPERES Project Coordinator, Lodzki University, Poland

Standing Lunch and Networking Gala

Simultaneous screening of the PROSECUW documentary ‘The Divinity of Oneness’

The documentary is a searing exposé of the stories shared by victims of religious hate crimes in Germany, Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus. It provides answers on critical issues about the escalating destruction of sacred sites and places of worship, the rise in hate of 'the other', and what is required to establish a society of interreligious respect and acceptance. Using a multi-angle approach, ranging from theological, intellectual, spiritual, social and political perspectives, the documentary triggers a journey of self-reflection, critical thought, and open heartedness. A documentary by the PROSECUW project, produced in collaboration with Film House Pictures, in the context of the European project PROSECUW, that aims to enhance protection at places of worship through multiagency cooperation, so as to develop their capacity to counteract radicalisation and hate-speech, in an effort to promote inter-religious respect and diversity.

VIP Dinner and Drinks (upon invitation)

Transnational Ecosystem Mapping and Research Report