Hind Aboud Kabawat, Syria

http://www.tanenbaum.org/hind_kabawat.html

Growing up as a Christian in Syria, Hind Aboud Kabawat was surrounded by the rich multireligious history of the region. In her peacemaking work as an adult, she draws upon religious leaders to help change attitudes, reverse prejudice and prevent more war in the Middle East.

Hind’s early career was as an International Consul in a Toronto law firm, where she lived a hectic life similar to many professional women, dividing her time between her law practice and raising two children. But by 1999, she came to believe that there was more for her to do in the world – more beyond the business of law and her family. Hind returned to school to study Conflict Resolution at the University of Toronto and International Relations at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

“I developed this passion for bringing people together in order to prevent more violence and war,” she says, “knowing that peace is the only solution for both our Arab and Israeli children.” Indeed, in just a few years, Hind quickly established herself as an important figure promoting dialogue among various sectors within Syria and throughout the Middle East. As an international advisor and attorney, as well as an educator and intellectual, she leads public diplomacy efforts that encourage interfaith tolerance and cooperation, modernization, reform and educational innovations in conflict resolution and diplomacy education.

Hind’s first-hand knowledge of her country allows her to recognize Syria as a very tolerant society surrounded by countries that are suffering from deep divisions, war and injustice. In response, Hind publicly cultivates local dialogue and respectful debate among Sunnis, Shias, Christians and Jews across the Middle East. She even helped bring American Rabbi Dr. Marc Gopin (a man she identifies as one of her two mentors) to a Syrian mosque – to discuss peaceful interreligious responses to conflict. Her other mentor is Dr. Ahmad Hussein Hassoun, the Grand Mufti of Syria. Perhaps it is no surprise, therefore, that Hind’s peacemaking ideology ties together various traditions, messages and teachings from Islam, Christianity and Judaism, creating a multi-faceted approach to Middle East peace initiatives.

Much of her work is grassroots, motivating dialogue from the ground up. But Hind is also connected with international and academic institutions that give her opportunities to promote change within society as well. Lately, she has also brought her formidable energy to initiating dialogue among Middle Eastern women and with Western women from all religions, including organizing roundtable discussions on interfaith peace building.

Currently, Hind divides her time between Toronto and Damascus. In addition to her legal practice, she has served as an adviser to many national and international firms and organizations, including the World Bank, the Syrian Public Relations Association, and the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, where she is a senior research associate in Public Diplomacy.