By Maxine Nash
29 January 2005

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.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an ecumenical violence-reduction program with roots in the historic peace churches. Teams of trained peace workers live in areas of lethal conflict around the world. CPT has been present in Iraq since October, 2002. To learn more about CPT, please visit http://www.cpt.org. Photos of CPT projects may be viewed at www.cpt.org/gallery