On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - Muslim Council of Elders calls for achieving social justice and providing a dignified life for all the poor and needy

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, emphasizes the importance of achieving social justice and working to alleviate the suffering experienced by millions of people worldwide due to poverty. It also calls for providing a dignified life for people and their families without exclusion or discrimination.

In an official statement on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed by the United Nations on October 17th each year, the Council noted the challenges the world faces today, with the increasing impact of wars and conflicts directly contributing to the widening economic gap and the rising rates of poverty, refugees, and homelessness globally. The statement also affirmed that extending a helping hand to the poor, the destitute, the deprived, the marginalized, and those who have lost their homes, as well as showing kindness and compassion towards them, is a duty for every human being, especially those who are well-off.

The Document on Human Fraternity, co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, alongside Pope Francis, in Abu Dhabi in 2019, emphasizes that the profound crises witnessed worldwide, the lack of fair distribution of natural resources held by a minority of the wealthy, and the deprivation of the vast majority of the Earth's populations, have resulted and continue to result in immense numbers of sick, disabled, and deceased individuals, while an unacceptable global silence prevails regarding these crises that cause millions of people around the world to die of hunger.

The Muslim Council of Elders has made significant efforts to reduce these issues while also halting hostilities, establishing the values of justice, and promoting peace, tolerance, and coexistence, while also contributing to achieving social solidarity and reinforcing human fraternity among people of different backgrounds, which shall aid in the fight against poverty and support the needy and vulnerable around the world.