Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders: We are all members of one human family, equal in rights, and united in diversity

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, launched the Human Fraternity Fellowship Program, the second phase of the global student dialogue program on human fraternity organized by the council in collaboration with Georgetown University last year. The program aims to introduce university students to the values of human fraternity and establish an international platform for students worldwide to engage in creative ideas to enhance solidarity among religions and cultures in societies.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, welcomed participants of the Human Fraternity Fellowship Program to continue these meaningful student dialogues that aim to promote human fraternity within university communities. The participants engaged in discussions and dialogue sessions to address the challenges and obstacles facing the dissemination and promotion of human fraternity on university campuses. The program also highlighted positive practices in this field and presented proposals and innovative ideas contributing to the consolidation of a culture of dialogue and communication within universities, serving as a starting point for its global dissemination through the youth.

During his meeting with the students of the Human Fraternity Fellowship Program, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, emphasized the importance of empowering and developing the capabilities of youth as a vital and essential pillar for building better, more prosperous, and peaceful societies. He affirmed that youth are not only our future but also our present, actively contributing to shaping and defining the path of the future. He called on the youth to take advantage of all available opportunities, acquire necessary experiences, enhance their leadership skills, and contribute to addressing the urgent global challenges, emphasizing the need for a culture of dialogue and communication within universities.

Abdelsalam added that the Human Fraternity Fellowship Program is one of the outcomes of the Document on Human Fraternity, a unique and pioneering document in its principles and values, co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders alongside His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church, in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The document has sparked a global movement in promoting peace and spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance, and mutual coexistence among followers of different religions and cultures.

The program's itinerary, lasting until February 10, includes the Human Fraternity Majlis organized by the Muslim Council of Elders in partnership with the Abrahamic Family House, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence in the UAE, and the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity. Participants engaged in a session titled "Youth as Ambassadors for Unity and Diversity," focusing on the importance of presenting initiatives that enhance understanding, tolerance, and unity through leveraging technology. The program also featured lectures by Ryann Craig from Georgetown University, and a workshop series discussing solutions that contribute to spreading a culture of solidarity, human fraternity, and peaceful coexistence.

The visit of the participants of the Human Fraternity Fellowship Program will also include meetings with students from New York University in Abu Dhabi and students from the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities. Discussions will focus on collaborative ways to promote and enhance the values of tolerance, human fraternity, acceptance of others, and diversity in university communities. Additionally, the participants will tour the Louvre Abu Dhabi to explore the "East Meets West" exhibition, visit Qasr Al Watan as well as the Document of Human Fraternity exhibition, and tour the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.