Bocholters pray together for peace

On Saturday, 15 November, an interfaith, public prayer for peace will take place on Benölkenplatz in Bocholt. It will begin at 17:00. Afterwards, all participants are invited to a get-together in the canteen of the St-Georg-Gymnasium with biscuits and hot drinks.

It was exactly nine years ago that the artist couple Carmen Dietrich and Gregor Merten, together with representatives of the Abrahamic religions and Bocholt's citizens, laid the "Angel of Cultures" as a floor inlay on Benölkenplatz.

At that time, the participants made a promise to respect each other, regardless of religion, and to work for peace in the city so that good coexistence can succeed locally.

"We would like to repeat this promise on 15 November on Benölkenplatz. All citizens who are concerned about peace in our city, but also worldwide, are invited", says Ulrik Störzer from the Bocholt Family Education Centre, hoping for as much participation as possible from the public. Störzer is the organiser of the event - together with Ute Gertz, pastoral advisor of the Liebfrauen parish in Bocholt, Ansar Ahmad Arshad, Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community in Bocholt, Rainer Heeke and integration officer Bruno Wansing. Deputy Mayor Gudrun Koppers and First City Councillor Björn Volmering will take part on behalf of the city of Bocholt. Turabi Alici will accompany the prayer for peace musically with the traditional long-necked lute saz.

"After the prayer for peace, we cordially invite the guests to a cosy get-together and exchange with drinks and snacks in the canteen of the neighbouring St. Georg-Gymnasium", adds Bruno Wansing, Integration Officer of the City of Bocholt. The cultural associations Akdeniz-Aleviten Bocholt und Umgebung, the German-Syrian Association, Afghan Hazara Deutsche Gemeinschaft Bocholt e.V. and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Bocholt will be providing refreshments.

The event is sponsored by the Borken District Municipal Integration Centre and the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.