at the
United States Institute of Peace, in
Washington, D.C., 2018 As the eldest son of a Muslim scholar and spiritual leader of the
Tijaniyya Sufi order from a long line of Imams, Muhammad Ashafa grew up in a conservative environment, eventually following the family vocation and becoming an Imam himself. But unlike his elders, he belongs to a generation influenced by the
1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran, the Saudi
Salafi preachers and the Egyptian
Muslim Brotherhood, which brought him to join an Islamist group determined to islamize northern Nigeria and drive out non-Muslims. This movement reached its peak during the 80's and 90's. Muhammad Ashafa went on to become Secretary General of the
National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations, an organization promoting debate and confrontation against Christians. During a confrontation between Christians and Muslims in Zongon Kataf, Muhammad Ashafa lost two cousins and his spiritual mentor, while Secretary General of the Kaduna State chapter for the
Youth Christian Association of Nigeria (YCAN) Pastor
James Wuye lost his right arm. In 1995, the two former opponents decided to work together and build bridges between their respective communities and founded
Interfaith Mediation Center of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue. ==Documentary Films==