The Community Services Center in the Ardamata administrative unit of West Darfur organized a workshop on Monday, focusing on the dangers of rumours and their societal impact, with support from the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The workshop included presentations on the perils and societal consequences of rumours from both media and religious perspectives.
Journalists Ibrahim Ismail and Aladdin Babiker addressed the topic from a media viewpoint, while Shiekh Khalil Abdul Malik and Maulana Abdul Aziz presented insights from a religious standpoint.
Attendees included youth leaders, women’s leaders, imams, preachers, and community elders from the Ardamata area.
Mustafa Ahmed, a participant, expressed appreciation to Radio Tamazuj for covering the workshop and described it as valuable and beneficial. He emphasized the importance of combating rumours due to their significant and negative impact on society.
Mustafa expressed his willingness to assist in eradicating rumours from the community and reiterated his gratitude to Radio Tamazuj and its correspondent for their participation in the workshop.
Participant Habiba Ismail Biello shared her reflections from the workshop, noting, “The spread of rumours is more common among the illiterate than the educated.” She elaborated, “During times of conflict, communities often lose their sense of awareness. For example, during the war, there was a rumour about the poisoning of drinking water from the main water station, which was baseless and false, yet many believed it.” Habiba also observed, “In Darfur, there is a lack of awareness, education, and religious understanding.”
Expressing her aspirations for stability and security in the state, Habiba hoped for the return of refugees.
High school teacher Awatif Omar described the workshop as excellent, emphasizing its illumination of the dangers of rumours. She stated, “Rumours have led to the decay of society and serve no purpose other than causing destruction. They are a temptation we must resist.” Awatif urged participants to share the knowledge gained in the workshop to promote community reconciliation.