Spiritual leader of the Alâwiyya Sufi community, convinced of the importance of sharing the culture of peace to ease world tensions.
Country: Algerian living in France
Biography:
In France since the 60s, Sheikh Bentounès is one of the peacemakers aiming for understanding between religions and between all people. Aware of the possible violent tendencies of religions, he founded the Scouts musulmans de France, the Association Terres d'Europe, then the Association Internationale Soufie Alaouite pour un Islam de paix. In October 2014, he organized an International Women's Congress for a Culture of& Peace, bringing together 3,000 participants in Oran, Algeria*. Also in 2014, he led an international mobilization campaign in favor of a World Day for Living Together, and sought to set up a peace academy.
