A Sudanese businessman Sunday defended hosting an inter-faith event to promote religious tolerance in the Muslim-majority country that also included Jews, Christians and Hindus.
Critics from an Islamist group had argued such events would heighten tensaions a month after Sudan s landmark decision to normalise ties with Israel in a US-brokered deal.
Businessman Abu al-Qassem Bortoum defended the event, held Saturday under tight security in a Khartoum hotel, as a bid to break the psychological barrier between Islam and other religions, in a country now undergoing a political transition.
Sudan, he said, was moving on a path to freedom, peace and justice by renouncing hate speech, violent discourse and religious discrimination to achieve unity, tolerance and social coexistence .