9/11 Fifteenth Anniversary; Where Refugees Are Welcome; Hajj

>>> COMING UP, 15 YEARS AFTER THE ATTACKS OF 9/11, KIM LAWTON TALKS TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS ABOUT THEIR VISION FOR INTERFAITH RELATIONS.

>>> ALSO, A FRED DE SAM LAZARO STORY ON A COUNTRY THAT WELCOMES EVEN THE MOST NEEDY REFUGEES.

>>> PLUS, WITH SOME TWO MILLION MUSLIM PILGRIMS AT THE HAJJ IN MECCA, WE VISIT AN EVENT WHERE CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THE RITUALS BEING PERFORMED.OMPANY.

>> WELCOME, I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

THIS TIME OF YEAR OF MANY ANNIVERSARIES.

IT'S THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

AND WE MARK THE 20TH SEASON OF THIS PROGRAM COVERING THE NEWS OF ALL RELIGIONS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON 9/11 LATER.

>>> SOME TWO MILLION MUSLIM PILGRIMS ARE IN SAUDI ARABIA FOR THE ANNUAL HAJJ, OR PILGRIMAGE, TO MECCA.

THE HAJJ IS ONE OF THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM, AND ALL MUSLIMS ARE CALLED TO PERFORM IT AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME IF THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SO.

SAUDI OFFICIALS HAVE STRENGTHENED SECURITY AND CROWD MANAGEMENT AFTER LAST YEAR'S DEADLY STAMPEDE.

THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT SAYS 769 PEOPLE WERE KILLED, BUT OTHER ESTIMATES PUT THE DEATH TOLL AT OVER 2,400.

IRAN HAS STRONGLY CRITICIZED SAUDI ARABIA'S HANDLING OF THE TRAGEDY, AND IRANIAN PILGRIMS ARE NOT TAKING PART IN THIS YEAR'S HAJJ.

SAUDI ARABIA HAS ACCUSED IRAN OF POLITICIZING THE SACRED EVENT.

>>> A SUSPECTED CHLORINE GAS ATTACK IN ALEPPO, SYRIA, HAS MADE MORE THAN 120 PEOPLE SICK, INCLUDING DOZENS OF CHILDREN.

AT LEAST ONE MAN DIED IN THIS WEEK'S ATTACK.

THE SYRIAN CIVIL DEFENSE, A RESCUE WORKERS' GROUP, SAID GOVERNMENT HELICOPTERS DROPPED BARREL BOMBS CONTAINING CHLORINE.

THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT AND REBELS HAVE ACCUSED EACH OTHER OF USING CHLORINE AS A WEAPON OF WAR.

THE ATTACK COMES THREE YEARS AFTER THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT AGREED TO GIVE UP ITS CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

>>> SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS GATHERED IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

IN DEFENSE OF CHRISTIANS, THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA AND OTHER GROUPS CALLED ON U.S.

LAWMAKERS TO PRESS FOR A SAFE REGION IN IRAQ FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.

THE INITIATIVE SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A PROVINCE THERE FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS, YAZIDIS AND OTHER MINORITY GROUPS.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS, THE LARGEST GATHERING OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES IN MORE THAN A CENTURY PROTESTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PROPOSED OIL PIPELINE IN NORTH DAKOTA.

THE 1,100 MILE PIPELINE WOULD BE THE FIRST TO TRANSPORT CRUDE OIL DIRECTLY FROM NORTH DAKOTA TO REFINERIES ON THE U.S. GULF COAST.

NATIVE AMERICANS ARE OUTRAGED THAT THE PIPELINE WOULD CROSS ANCIENT BURIAL AND PRAYER SITES.

THEY ALSO FEAR A RUPTURE OF THE PIPELINE COULD POLLUTE THE MISSOURI RIVER, THE MAIN SOURCE OF THEIR DRINKING WATER.

>>> FOR MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE ATTACKS OF 9/11 SPURRED A NEW INTEREST IN INTERFAITH DIALOGUE.

KIM LAWTON TALKS WITH TWO RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO WERE BOTH STUDENTS IN NEW YORK ON 9/11.

THEY DESCRIBE HOW THAT EVENT AND ITS AFTERMATH PROFOUNDLY SHAPED WHAT THEY NOW SEE AS THEIR MISSION IN LIFE -- TO PROMOTE A NEW VISION FOR INTERFAITH RELATIONS FACE TO FACE.

>> Reporter: LIKE MANY AMERICANS, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINS IMAM KHALID LATIF AND RABBI YEHUDA SARNA REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE ON THAT MORNING 15 YEARS AGO.

>> I WAS AN UNDERGRAD AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ON SEPTEMBER 11 IN 2001.

>> Reporter: LATIF WAS A SOPHOMORE AND HAD JUST ARRIVED FOR ARABIC CLASS WHEN A SECURITY GUARD CAME AND TOLD THE STUDENTS TO EVACUATE.

THEY WENT TO NEARBY WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK, WHERE THOUSANDS HAD GATHERED TO WATCH THE FIRE AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF NOISE, A LOT OF COMMOTION.

PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE WERE HIT BY THIS VERY HEAVY SILENCE AS WE WATCHED THE SECOND PLANE FLY INTO THE TOWERS.

IT FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY BUT WAS REALLY JUST SECONDS.

>> Reporter: SARNA WAS ALSO IN NEW YORK, AT THE LIBRARY OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY, WHEN THE TOWERS FELL.

>> I WAS IN RABBINICAL SCHOOL AT YESHIVA UNIVERSITY DOING MY INTERNSHIP AT A SYNAGOGUE IN RIVERDALE.

THE SENIOR RABBI OF THE CONGREGATION, RABBI AVI WEISS, WAS KNOWN TO TRY TO BRING HEALING TO PLACES AND SITUATIONS OF GREAT DISTRESS.

>> Reporter: WEISS WENT TO THE GROUND ZERO AREA.

HE INVITED SARNA TO COME WITH HIM.

>> I WATCHED AS HE WENT OVER TO THE PEOPLE WHO LOOKED THE MOST DESPONDENT, TIRED, GRIEVING, AND HE JUST HUGGED THEM.

AND HE SAID, "I'M HERE, I AM A RABBI, AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY GOD BLESS YOU."

THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT I RECEIVED MY ORDINATION.

IT'S ABOUT HUMAN CONNECTION.

SO I WOULD SAY 9/11 WAS VERY FOUNDATIONAL FOR WHAT I SEE AS MY LIFE'S MISSION.

>> Reporter: LATIF SAYS THE EVENTS OF 9/11 WERE PIVOTAL IN SHAPING HIS MISSION AS WELL.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATTACKS, HE AND OTHER MUSLIMS FELT A BACKLASH OF BLAME.

>> MY FATHER SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'D BE MORE COMFORTABLE IF YOU DIDN'T COVER YOUR HEAD ANYMORE, YOU WEREN'T VISIBLY IDENTIFIABLE AS A MUSLIM.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS, MANY OF US WERE TAKING STEPS BACK TO NOT ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT SUPPORT FRIENDS OF OTHER FAITHS GAVE HIM THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT HIS MUSLIM BELIEFS.

>> I, ALONG WITH MANY OF MY CLASSMATES AT THAT TIME, WE JUST MADE A DECISION TO BE MORE PROACTIVE, TO TELL PEOPLE, THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, THIS IS WHO WE ARE, THIS IS WHAT OUR VALUES ACTUALLY ARE.

>> Reporter: TODAY, LATIF AND SARNA ARE LEADERS AT NYU'S GLOBAL CENTER FOR ACADEMIC AND SPIRITUAL LIFE, WHICH HAS BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL FOR UNIVERSITY INTERFAITH PROGRAMS.

>> MY COMMUNITY WAS VERY MUCH IN THEIR OWN MUSLIM BUBBLE, SO EVERYONE I WAS INTERACTING WITH WAS DEFINITELY MUSLIM.

BUT INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT FAITHS, I NEVER REALLY DID THAT.

>> Reporter: AT NYU, STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND EACH OTHER'S RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN PROJECTS LIKE THE MUSLIM/JEWISH JUM'AH/SHABBAT EXPERIENCE.

SENIOR SANA MAYAT SAYS THAT HAS ENHANCED HER OWN ISLAMIC PRACTICE.

>> AND I REALLY LOVE THE CONCEPT OF SHABBAT, I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF IT, IT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL THING TO DISCONNECT, TUNE EVERYTHING OUT AND REALLY CENTER YOURSELF IN WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

I PRAY FIVE TIMES A DAY, THAT'S FIVE TIMES A DAY THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO TUNE EVERYTHING OUT AND REALLY CONCENTRATE ON PRAYER AND GOD AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT BUT HOW INVESTED AM I IN THAT, THAT I'M STILL NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT TEXT MESSAGE I GOT ON MY PHONE, THAT EMAIL I HAVE TO SEND.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE INTERFAITH CLUBS TO FOSTER DIALOGUE.

AND THERE ARE JOINT SERVICE PROJECTS, SUCH AS WHEN STUDENTS OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS CAME TOGETHER TO HELP REBUILD HOMES AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA AND AFTER RECENT TORNADOS.

>> WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS THOSE KINDS OF DISASTERS JUST DON'T KNOCK DOWN HOMES, BUT THEY CAN BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF ACTING OUT ON A SHARED VALUE REALLY BONDS PEOPLE.

>> WHEN YOU'RE SITTING AND PAINTING A WALL FOR TEN HOURS, YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU.

AND YOU HAVE A COMMON GOAL AND A COMMON MISSION, AND YOU GET TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND YOU JUST RELATE TO PEOPLE AS PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE LEADERS SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE A NEW VISION OF INTERFAITH RELATIONS.

>> INTERFAITH INTERACTION TODAY CAN'T BE WHAT MANY OF US HAVE DONE WITH IT IN THE PAST, WHERE IT'S JUST A PANEL DISCUSSION, PEOPLE GETTING UP ON A STAGE TALKING ABOUT SIMILARITIES FOR AN HOUR AND THEN EVERYBODY GOES BACK TO THEIR OWN HOMES.

>> WE ARE CONCERNED NOT ABOUT WHAT'S SAID IN THE BOOKS, BUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IN THE STREET.

AND THEREFORE, THE KIND OF - ENGAGEMENT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS VERY MUCH PERSONAL.

FACE TO FACE.

>> Reporter: THE TWO MEN MODEL THAT IN THEIR OWN CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP.

WHEN LATIF GOT MARRIED FIVE YEARS AGO, IT WAS ON THE JEWISH SABBATH, SO SARNA, WHO IS AN ORTHODOX JEW, WALKED MORE THAN 80 BLOCKS TO BE THERE.

TODAY, THEY LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THE SAME BUILDING.

>> OUR WIVES ARE FRIENDS, OUR CHILDREN ARE FRIENDS.

- WE AT ONE POINT EVEN SHARED A NANNY.

AND OUR KIDS, MY CHILDREN, DON'T KNOWñANYTHING DIFFERENT.

>> I THINK MY OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HAS BEEN HEAVILY IMPACTED BY HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FAITH AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

>> YOU CAN BE DEEPLY EMBEDDED AND ENRICHED BY A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY AND STILL BE EXCITED ABOUT COLLABORATING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE OF A DIFFERENT FAITH COMMUNITY.

>> MUSLIMS LOVE KHALID AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY LOVES RABBI SARNA, SO WHEN YOU SEE THE TWO PEOPLE WE LOVE MOST COMING TOGETHER, IT JUST OPENS UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

>> THEY EMBODY EVERYTHING THE STUDENT GROUPS ARE TRYING TO DO.

>> Reporter: LATIF AND SARNA BELIEVE HAVING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO CONFRONT DIFFICULT ISSUES, SUCH AS RELIGION AND TERRORISM OR THE ISRAELI PALESTINIAN CONFLICT.

>> WE DON'T BELIEVE IN AVOIDING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

WE BELIEVE THAT DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ARE BEST HAD BETWEEN FRIENDS.

>> YOU GAIN A LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR SOMEONE AND YOU KNOW SOMEONE, SO IT'S HARD TO BE RESENTFUL FOR SOMEONE'S OPINIONS, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WHEN YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOMEONE'S FAMILY, IT PROMOTES A BETTER DIALOGUE.

>> Reporter: IN THEIR WORK, LATIF AND SARNA SAY THE LESSONS OF 9/11 ARE STILL VERY EVIDENT.

LAST YEAR, DURING POPE FRANCIS' VISIT TO THE U.S., LATIF HELPED LEAD THE INTERFAITH SERVICE AT THE 9/11 MEMORIAL.

>> THROUGH OUR KNOWING OF EACH OTHER TODAY, LET US MOVE BEYOND A MERE TOLERATION OF OUR DIFFERENCES AND WORK TOWARDS A MUCH-NEEDED CELEBRATION OF THEM.

>> Reporter: 15 YEARS AFTER 9/11, BOTH LEADERS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT DIVISIONS AND ANTI-RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY SEEM TO BE ON THE RISE IN MANY AREAS.

>> THERE IS A RETURN OF THE KIND OF HATEFUL RHETORIC THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD BURIED.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.

IT'S VERY SAD.

IT'S SCARY, BUT FOR ME IT'S MORE SAD THAN SCARY.

>> Reporter: STILL, SARNA SAYS THE CURRENT CLIMATE HAS RENEWED THEIR PURPOSE OF HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE FIND A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING INTERFAITH RELATIONS.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY YOUNG THEY WANT TO DO THIS.

>> FOR MANY IT'S LIKE WELL, WHERE DO I START?

AND YOU KNOW, YOUR STARTING CAN JUST BE WITH ONE OTHER PERSON.

YOU MIGHT NOT IMPACT A MILLION PEOPLE OR TEN MILLION PEOPLE BUT IF YOU CAN BRING GOOD TO JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL, YOU CAN IMPACT ONE HEART.

THATñCOULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> Reporter: AND THEY SAY, THAT CAN BRING HOPE TO A WORLD FOREVER CHANGED BY 9/11.

I'M KIM LAWTON IN NEW YORK.

>>> FOR ALL THE WORLD'S REFUGEES, 65 MILLION AT LAST COUNT, HOMELESS, JOBLESS, STRUGGLING TO FIND SAFETY AND SHELTER -- UGANDA, IN EAST AFRICA MAY BE AMONG THE MOST WELCOMING.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO WENT THERE RECENTLY FOR THIS REPORT ON HOW THE REFUGEES HAVE SETTLED IN.

>> Reporter: NAKHIVALE, IN SOUTHERN UGANDA, LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER DUSTY RURAL AFRICAN TOWN.

WHAT'S REMARKABLE IS THAT ALMOST NONE OF ITS 113,000 RESIDENTS ARE UGANDAN.

>> ETHIOPIA?

>> ALL OF THESE GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ARE REF DEGREES.

ALL TOLD, 13 NATIONS ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS CROWDED NAKHIVALE SCHOOL, THEIR FAMILIES FLEEING CONFLICTS ACROSS A WIDE SWATH OF EAST AFRICA AND FINDING HAVEN IN WHAT MUST RANK AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST HOSPITABLE COUNTRIES TO REFUGEES.

IN UGANDA REFUGEES ARE PLACED IN SETTLEMENTS AND NOT CAMPS, AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE.

CAMPS TEND TO CONFINE PEOPLE, WHEREAS IN UGANDA WHEN REFUGEES ARRIVE THEY ARE ISSUED LEGAL I.D.s THAT ENTITLE THEM TO GO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY TO FIND A JOB, START A BUSINESS, PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

REFUGEES IN RURAL AREAS ARE GIVEN A SMALL PLOT OF LAND TO FARM.

OTHERS MIGRATE TO THE URBAN AREAS.

AMONG THE EARLIER ARRIVALS IN RECENT YEARS ARE SOMALIS.

THEIR ENCLAVES IN THE CAPITAL, KAMPALA, ARE WELL ESTABLISHED WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND MOSQUES, A PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN A MOSTLY CHRISTIAN NATION.

MOHAMMED ABDI RUNS THIS GROCERY STORY WITH HIS PARTNER, ZAHARA HASSAN.

>> Translator: WE HAVE MANY UGANDAN CUSTOMERS, AND WE ARE FRIENDS.

I AM ONE OF THE SOMALI ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE INTERACT WITH THE ELDERS OF THE UGANDAN COMMUNITY, WHETHER LEADERS IN THIS DISTRACT OR REGION, AND WE ARE FRIENDS, AND THEY WELCOME US.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY.

WE'RE LIKE ONE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: AND ONE SCHOLAR WHO'S STUDIED REFUGEES IN UGANDA SAYS THERE'S REASON TO BE HAPPY.

>> WE SHOWED IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF UGANDA, KAMPALA, 20% OF REFUGEES OWN BUSINESSES THAT EMPLOY SOMEONE ELSE.

AND OF THOSE THEY EMPLOY, 40% ARE CITIZENS OF THE HOST COUNTRY.

SO REFUGEES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOST SOCIETIES THAT THEY'RE PART OF.

>> Reporter: OXFORD UNIVERSITY'S THE EXCEPTION IN A WORLD WHERE REFUGEES FACE WIDESPREAD HOSTILITY, OFTEN STOKED BY POLITICIANS.

>> IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO HAVE A RACE TO THE BOTTOM IN TERMS OF POLITICAL STANDARDS, WHERE PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL POLITICIANS OR NATIONAL POLITICIANS SAY, "THESE PEOPLE ARE A BURDEN; WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM OUT."

>> Reporter: AND WHILE MANY POLITICIANS, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN DEMOCRACIES, MUST TREAD CAREFULLY ON THIS ISSUE, BETTS SAYS IT'S NOT A PROBLEM IN UGANDA, WHERE ONE MAN RULES VIRTUALLY UNCHALLENGED.

>> PRESIDENT MUSEVENI HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADOPT REFUGEE POLICIES THAT ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, IN PART BECAUSE THERE ARE LOWER STANDARDS OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.

NOW, NOT HAVING DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS IS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE, BUT IT HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFICULTIES FOR DEMOCRACIES TO OPEN UP THEIR ECONOMIES TO NON-CITIZENS.

IT'S A HARD THING FOR POLITICIANS.

>> Reporter: RECENT HISTORY MIGHT ALSO ACCOUNT FOR UGANDA'S HOSPITALITY TO REFUGEES.

PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI HIMSELF LIVED IN EXILE FOR YEARS DURING AND AFTER THE BLOODY DICTATORSHIP OF IDI AMIN.

MUSEVENI'S REBELS TOOK POWER 30 YEARS AGO.

>> THERE'S BEEN A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE IN THIS AREA.

>> I THINK THAT THAT HAS CREATED A SENSE OF BEING HOSPITABLE, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, IT MAY BE YOUR TURN NEXT.

THERE'S A PROVERB IN MY OWN >> Reporter: DESPITE PRAISE FOR ITS HOSPITALITY, LIFE WITHIN THAT PROVERBIAL UGANDAN COMPOUND IS FAR FROM PERFECT FOR REFUGEES.

THEIR NUMBER HAS DOUBLED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS TO MORE THAN HALF A MILLION, MOST RECENTLY FROM SEPARATE CONFLICTS IN BURUNDI AND SOUTH SUDAN.

>> UGANDA IS GOOD BECAUSE IT DOES GIVE US SECURITY HERE IN THE CAMP.

MOST OF THE TIME YOU DON'T HEAR GUNS LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: KILUME ZIZI IS GRATEFUL TO HAVE ESCAPED THE VIOLENCE IN HIS NATIVE CONGO, WHERE HE HAD A SMALL BUSINESS IN HOUSEHOLD GOODS.

HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO REESTABLISH HERE AND BARELY SCRAPES BY ON MINIMAL FOOD RATIONS FOR HIS WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN.

ONE KILL LOW GRAM PER PERSON?

>> TWO CUPS.

>> Reporter: FOR HOW LONG?

>> JUST ONE MONTH.

>> Reporter: MANY REFUGEES, LIKE ABABESH GEBRASLASSIE, REMAIN HAUNTED BY THE ORDEAL THAT BROUGHT THEM HERE.

>> Translator: MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED.

MY SON WAS KILLED.

AND ALSO MY DAUGHTER.

>> Reporter: A SON AND DAUGHTER DIED IN THEIR ESCAPE FROM ERITREA, A COUNTRY RATED AMONG THE WORLD'S MOST REPRESSIVE BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.

BUT DIED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

SHE SURVIVED THE JOURNEY OF THOUSANDS OF MILES ON FOOT AND ON TRUCKS WITH HER THEN 6-YEAR-OLD TWIN SON AND DAUGHTER.

BUT SHE MADE A WRENCHING DECISION TO LEAVE TWO OLDER TEENAGED CHILDREN BEHIND.

>> Translator: I FEARED THAT WE ALL WOULD DIE, LIKE MY SON WHO WAS SHOT.

I LEFT THEM SO THAT OUR FAMILY CAN SURVIVE, CAN BE REPRESENTED.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE STILL THERE NOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Reporter: ALONG THE WAY SHE ALSO TOOK CUSTODY OF HER ORPHANED GRANDDAUGHTER, SARA, WHO'S NOW FOUR.

>> Translator: I DON'T CARE IF I DIE HERE.

BUT I WANT A BETTER FUTURE FOR MY CHILDREN, AND THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT A GOOD EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: THAT'S NOT LIKELY IN THE CROWDED SCHOOL HER CHILDREN ATTEND, CROWDED WITH 120 STUDENTS IN EACH CLASSROOM, AND PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THAT, TEACHERS WHO AREN'T VERY SYMPATHETIC.

THERE ARE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR BEING LATE, FOR INSTANCE.

THEY BEAT YOU?

>> YES.

>> Reporter: WHO BEATS YOU?

>> THE TEACHERS.

THEY MAKE YOU CLEAN THE TOILET AND PICK UP THE RUBBISH.

>> Reporter: IF YOU ARE LATE, YOU HAVE TO WASH THE TOILETS?

>> YES.

AREN'T THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT I'M LATE BECAUSE I HAVE GONE TO FETCH WATER AND HELPED MY MOTHER WITH THE CHORES.

IN THE END, UGANDAN AND INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS SAY IT BOILS DOWN TO RESOURCES OR A LACK OF THEM.

UGANDA MAY BE HOSPITABLE, BUT IT HAS A GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF JUST $600 A YEAR PER PERSON.

NAKHIVALE'S SCHOOL IS FUNDED BY THE UN'S REFUGEE AGENCY.

IT GIVES UGANDA SOME $200 MILLION ANNUALLY IN REFUGEE AID, A FRACTION OF WHAT'S NEEDED BUT NOT LIKELY TO INCREASE AMID THE DEMANDS ON DONOR GOVERNMENTS FOR REFUGEES OUT OF SYRIA, UKRAINE AND ELSEWHERE.

CHARLES YAXLEY IS THE SPOKESMAN.

>> AROUND THE WORLD, CURRENTLY, HUMANITARIAN APPEALS FOR REFUGEES IN UGANDA, BOTH OF THOSE APPEALS ARE UNDER FUNDED.

WE RECEIVE LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE MONEY WE NEED FOR 2016.

THAT LEAVES GAPS.

IT MEANS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN SUCH AS BETTER SCHOOLS, MORE SCHOOLS, MORE TEACHERS.

>> Reporter: THAT DOES NOT ODE WELL FOR THE FUTURE OF ABEBESH GEBRASLASSIE'S TWINS, WHO SHARED THEIR DREAMS IN HALTING, SHY ENGLISH.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?

>> WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR AND HELP MY MOTHER.

>> Reporter: HOW ABOUT YOU, DAVID?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

>> I WISH TO BE A PILOT.

>> Reporter: A PILOT?

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?

>> EVERYPLACE.

AMERICA AND EVERYWHERE.

>> Reporter: AMERICA AND EVERYWHERE?

>> YEAH.

>> Reporter: POSSIBLE, BUT LIKE THEIR CHANCE OF A GOOD EDUCATION HERE, WITH LOTTERY-LIKE ODDS.

AMERICA ADMITTED 70,000 REFUGEES LAST YEAR.

THE U.N. SAYS THERE ARE 65 MILLION DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY.

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," THIS IS FRED DE SAM LAZARO IN NAKHIVALE, UGANDA.

>>> EXCERPTS OF RETIRED POPE BENEDICT XVI'S NEW BOOK, "LAST TESTAMENT: IN HIS OWN WORDS" HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN AN ITALIAN NEWSPAPER AND A GERMAN WEEKLY.

IN THE BOOK, BENEDICT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT GOVERNING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS NOT HIS STRONG SUIT BUT SAYS HE DOES NOT CONSIDER HIS PAPACY A FAILURE.

BENEDICT ALSO SAYS HE WAS SHOCKED AND A LITTLE UNCERTAIN WHEN HIS SUCCESSOR, POPE FRANCIS, WAS ELECTED BUT THAT HE HAS SINCE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH FRANCIS' PAPACY.

>>> CONSERVATIVE LEADER PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY DIED ON MONDAY.

SHE WAS 92.

SCHLAFLY WAS ACTIVE IN POLITICS FOR DECADES.

SHE RECENTLY ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT AND WAS A DELEGATE TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN JULY.

OVER HER CAREER, SHE LED GRASS-ROOTS CAMPAIGNS AGAINST COMMUNISM AND ABORTION AND ALSO HELPED DEFEAT THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

SCHLAFLY WAS ROMAN CATHOLIC AND SPOKE OUT AGAINST GAY RIGHTS, EVEN AFTER ONE OF HER SONS ACKNOWLEDGED HE IS HOMOSEXUAL.

>>> ON OUR CALENDAR -- FOR MUSLIMS, THIS WEEK MARKS ONE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAYS, EID-AL-ADHA, THE FESTIVAL OF THE SACRIFICE.

THE DAY COMMEMORATES ABRAHAM'S WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE HIS SON.

WHILE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THAT SON WAS ISAAC, IN ISLAMIC TRADITION IT WAS ISHMAEL.

>>> THE EID COMES AT THE HEIGHT OF THE HAJJ IN MECCA, WHERE PILGRIMS ARE PERFORMING A SERIES OF SPECIAL RITUALS.

WE VISITED THE DAR AL-HIJRAH ISLAMIC CENTER IN FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, WHERE CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN AN EDUCATIONAL "MOCK HAJJ."

IMAM JOHARI ABDUL-MALIK EXPLAINED THE PILGRIMAGE AND THE RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

>> THE JOURNEY TO THIS HOUSE ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME IS, IN THE ISLAMIC TRADITION, A REQUIREMENT.

AND SO PEOPLE WILL LEAVE THEIR FAMILIAR AND THEY WILL COME TO THIS HOUSE ESTABLISHED BY ABRAHAM.

BUT 6 MILLION PEOPLE CANNOT FIT INSIDE THIS HOUSE AND SO PEOPLE WILL PRAY AROUND THE HOUSE.

SEVEN CIRCUITS AROUND THE KA'BA IS THE TRADITION.

WHEN HAGAR WAS LEFT IN MECCA, BY ABRAHAM, WITH HER BABY, SHE WAS LOOKING FOR WATER.

THE ANGEL CAME AND AT HIS FEET SPRUNG A WELL AND IT IS A KIND OF HOLY WATER.

THEN THEY WILL RUN BETWEEN THE HILLS OF SAFA AND MARWAH IN THE WAY THAT HAGAR DID.

MINA IS A TENT CITY.

AND THEY WILL LIVE IN THIS TENT AND PERFORM FIVE DAILY PRAYERS.

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD, WHEN HE MADE HIS PILGRIMAGE, HE CAME TO THE TOP OF THIS HILL.

HE GAVE HIS FINAL SERMON.

IT IS THE BELIEF THAT AFTER ONE COMPLETES THIS DAY ON ARAFAH, THAT ALL OF YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.

THE PROPHET INSTRUCTED HIS COMPANIONS TO COLLECT SOME PEBBLES.

AND THE NEXT MORNING, AFTER ARAFAH, COME AND THROW, SYMBOLICALLY, THEIR PEBBLE, LIKE ABRAHAM THREW AT THE DEVIL WHEN HE WAS TEMPTQ".

WHILE WE ARE IN MINA, THROWING OUR STONES, PEOPLE IN MECCA ARE CELEBRATING EID.

IT'S LIKE THANKSGIVING ON STEROIDS.

WE SACRIFICE A SHEEP, AND WE GIVE THAT FOOD TO THE NEEDY AROUND OUR PLANET.

MY HAJJ IS NOT VALID UNLESS I MAKE THE SACRIFICE.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

WATCH US ANYTIME ON THE PBS APP FOR iPHONES AND iPADS.

THERE IS ALSO MUCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO OR WATCH EVERY PROGRAM.

JOIN US AT PBS.ORG/RELIGIONETHICS.

AS WE LEAVE YOU, MUSIC FROM LAST YEAR'S 9/11 MEMORIAL SERVICE WITH POPE FRANCIS, WHERE AN INTERFAITH CHILDREN'S CHOIR SANG "LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH."

♪ LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH ♪ ♪ AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME ♪NT COMPANY.

>> BE MOR