I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference in Vienna on the subject of “Muslims and the West: Living together – but how?” The conference, hosted by Women without Borders in cooperation with the US Mission to the European Union, took place on 18 October, 2007 and included a very informative and enlightening program. I would like to thank the US Embassy in Malta for coordinating and sponsoring my participation.
My fellow participants came from several European countries which have a significant Muslim population. Muslim keynote speakers and representatives of the young Muslim communities lent their expertise, shared personal experiences and discussed diverse modern views of European, Asian and North American Muslims. Among the distinguished speakers were Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Senior Advisor to the US Secretary of State for women’s empowerment and Farah Pandith, Senior Advisor in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the US Department of State.
An important topic of discussion during the conference was how female Muslims in Europe and the US can confidently participate in and contribute to their societies, be fully integrated and act as a strong and visible force for moderation. Emphasis was given to how these women can act as positive agents of change in the development of national policies and international trends. The conference was a unique platform to gather the voices of moderate Muslim women, as well as men, from Europe and the US to interact in a responsible, legal and democratic way and thus present their views, strategies, hopes and ambitions.
The conference provided an excellent platform for me to share my own humble experience, as the Catholic head of a Muslim school – quite a unique reality. The Catholic religion is the practicing faith for most Maltese, with the Muslim religion practiced by a small minority. The relationship between the two faiths has been strengthened by the foundation of an Islamic school, Mariam Albatool. The school was set up at the initiative of the Imam of the Maltese Muslim community, Mr Mohamed El Sadi, an educator himself, with my own strong support and commitment to helping the community open the school. The idea of the school came in response to the need of young Muslims, both Maltese and foreigners, to grow up as good Muslims.
Since the inauguration of the school in 1997 and despite the numerous difficulties we encountered, we have never looked back and for this I must acknowledge the World Islamic Call Society in Tripoli, Libya, which is the main financial contributor to the school. We have also received support and encouragement from the Ministry of Education in our endeavours. Recently, we proudly announced the opening of the secondary school. Today Mariam Albatool offers a wonderful educational program, with a rich mix of faiths, cultures and civilizations.
My co-participants at the conference in Vienna were amazed at the unique situation in Malta and were encouraged by the positive experience and the progress being made at the Mariam Albatool School. It was an honour for the school to be recognised for its important spiritual, emotional and cultural contribution and its role in bringing together different cultures and religions.
Unfortunately, we are living in a world of conflict and intolerance and it is therefore vital for all of us to be committed to understanding each other and to respecting different faiths, cultures and traditions in order to create the foundations of a lasting world peace. Bringing people together, as the conference did, to discuss their fears and concerns and to share positive experiences and encouragement is one way to promote mutual respect and cooperation among international communities.

Maria Camilleri is Head of Mariam Albatool School, Paola