The VIRTUOUS project, an EU-funded initiative bringing together 21 partners from 11 countries, has launched #PlacesOfWorshipForAll, a communication campaign developed under the lead of Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies as launched #PlacesOfWorshipForAll, a communication campaign developed within the VIRTUOUS project, an EU-funded initiative bringing together 21 partners from 11 countries.
The campaign combines multidisciplinary expertise, interreligious perspectives, the operational experience of Law Enforcement Agencies, including the Police of Madrid, Murcia and Cyprus, and technological innovations in architectural security developed by Yuppies.
#PlacesOfWorshipForAll brings together 15 stakeholder perspectives in a shared commitment to enhancing the safety and peace of mind of all people of faith through interreligious solidarity and multi-agency collaboration.
The campaign features voices from three religious traditions: Islam, Judaism and Christianity (the latter including Evangelical Christianity, Greek Orthodoxy and Catholicism). The religious communities were represented by Massimo Abdellah Cozzolino, Dr Umar Al-Qadri, Rav Scialom Bahbout, Mr Lazaros Sefiha, Mr Rinalds Grants, Fr Christos A. Mitsiou, Fr Stanisław Stelmaszek and Fr Krzysztof Deja. Drawing on their experience as religious leaders and trusted community representatives, the campaign identifies key security challenges faced by places of worship and provides practical guidance to help religious communities strengthen preparedness and resilience.
Beyond prevention, #PlacesOfWorshipForAll also addresses the aftermath of security incidents, highlighting the importance of preserving the openness, accessibility and welcoming nature of places of worship while strengthening protective measures.
The videos are available for public through VIRTUOUS official social media profiles under the name Virtuous project in Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
A campaign guided by security, data protection and ethics
Given the sensitive nature of the subject, the campaign has been developed following strict security, legal and ethical standards.
Within the VIRTUOUS consortium, QUINTUM SCUTUM, the organisation responsible for analysing attack methodologies, has ensured that the materials provide practical and relevant knowledge without compromising the safety of religious communities. At the same time, TECOMS has overseen compliance with data protection requirements and ethical principles throughout the development of the campaign.
