Publication

The desecration of the Koran and Islamic writings caused violent unrest in Afghanistan and raises concerns about essential training in culture and religion for US personnel. Basic knowledge of religious actors and their roles in peace-building and conflict management is still barely factored in by policymakers and advisers to US government. There needs to be more effort by local, regional, and international religious leaders to promote nonviolent and tolerant reactions even in the midst of incendiary events. An assessment is needed to evaluate whether efforts at promoting inter-cultural sensitivity are working or not, and identifying processes for mitigating tensions.