H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited Iraq on a three-day peace mission at the invitation of Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki. It was for the first time that an Indian spiritual leader was invited to the war-torn country on a peace mission.
During the visit, H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar urged Iraqi leaders to give non-violence a chance. He met with a wide spectrum of Iraqi society including senior political figures, Shiite leaders, tribal heads, representatives of humanitarian organizations, women, soldiers, and youth.
The Prime Minister requested H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to expand the Art of Living programs to more parts of Iraq, including the prisons. Following the visit, the Iraqi government sent 55 youth to the Art of Living international center to attend a month-long training. As a result, Iraq now has many more angles for peace.