Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders to Graduates of the Second Edition of the Emerging Peacemakers Forum: Beware of Those Who Exploit Religion as a Cover for Their Shadowy Agendas

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, has addressed the graduates of the second edition of the Emerging Peacemakers Forum and urged them to be cautious of individuals, institutions, organizations, and entities that exploit religion for their own political, economic, or religious agendas. During the graduation ceremony of the second edition of the Emerging Peacemakers Forum. Judge Abdelsalam emphasized that religion is an expression of human nature, far removed from violence, extremism, wars, conflicts, and intimidation. He pointed that circumstances and ideologies adopted by certain entities are the primary instigators of such actions, which exploit religion as a cover for their shadowy agendas.

In his speech, Judge Abdelsalam called upon the graduates to continue their journey as peacemakers, highlighting that they have the right to be proud and confident in their ability to create peace. He expressed the Muslim Council of Elders' keenness, under the chairmanship of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the esteemed members of the Council, to establish a genuine partnership with the graduates in order to promote peace worldwide.

Judge Abdelsalam expressed his gratitude to His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, for his unwavering belief in the youth and their capacity to effect positive change. He also thanked His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, for his support of the Document on Human Fraternity, which represents the shared goal we all strive for.

Furthermore, Judge Abdelsalam expressed gratitude to Dr. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has been a steadfast supporter of the forum since its first edition. He also extended his appreciation to His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence of the United Arab Emirates, for his support of tolerance programs and for being a key partner of the Muslim Council of Elders, providing full support to the forum and for the Ministry’s high-level delegation taking part in the forum.

In conclusion, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam conveyed his appreciation to the Council’s partners in the forum, the World Council of Churches and the Rose Castle Foundation for their efforts in the success of the forum.

Rev Dr. Richard Sudworth, Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and National Inter Religious Affairs Advisor delivered a speech on behalf of Dr. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, emphasizing the challenges faced in today's changing world and the importance of the youth in addressing these challenges. He expressed his hope that the friendships formed during the forum would transcend borders and continents, fostering understanding, respect for differences, and peaceful coexistence.

Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, acknowledged the significant role of peacemakers in proposing creative solutions to the challenges our world faces today. He congratulated the participants on their graduation, referring to them as the heroes of the future.

Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, welcomed all attendees and graduates, stressing the need to establish common ground for dialogue, discussion, justice, and acquiring the necessary experiences to address the challenges associated with peacemaking.

For their part, graduates of the second edition of the Emerging Peacemakers Forum expressed their immense happiness in participating in the meaningful forum and expressed their appreciation for the Muslim Council of Elders' efforts in promoting and enhancing the values of peace, tolerance, and coexistence. They regarded their participation in the forum as a turning point in their lives, enabling them to actively contribute to the promotion and reinforcement of peace.

The forum’s graduation ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including His Excellency Dato Dr. Koutoub Sano, member of the Muslim Council of Elders, former Minister of Religious Affairs and Minister of International Cooperation in Guinea, Secretary-General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy; Dr. Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee in the UAE Federal National Council and President of the World Council of Muslim Communities; His Excellency Ahmed Al Jarman, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva; Her Excellency Afra Al Saberi, Director-General of the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and coexistence; and Adama Dieng, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Muslim Council of Elders.