KARLSRUHE, GERMANY – The Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) hosted an interfaith workshop on Thursday at the World Council of Churches’ Assembly, *an event* considered to be one of the most diverse Christian gatherings in the world with over 4,000 participants. 

The workshop, titled “Human Fraternity and Promoting Peace in Communities,” featured former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and former UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide H.E. Adama Dieng and American academic Dr. Aaron Tyler, who shared their insights on the local and global impact of the human fraternity project – supported and promoted by MCE Chairman and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and His Holiness Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church.

Dr. Tyler - professor in international relations and global affairs at St. Mary’s University in Texas and author of “Islam, the West, and Tolerance: Conceiving Coexistence” - said significant progress in the fields of interfaith and intercultural relations is being made at both the high-level and grassroots level.

“From today’s workshop hosted by a Muslim organization at a major Christian conference to a senior-level event like the 2019 co-signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Abu Dhabi – we have many current inspiring examples of efforts to promote peace and coexistence,” said Dr. Tyler, adding that the Muslim Council of Elders is leading efforts to foster peace between Muslim and non-Muslim communities as evident from its organization of the 2019 meeting between the Pope and Grand Imam.

For his part, H.E. Adama Dieng, who currently serves as the UN Expert on Human Rights in the Sudan and as the Special Adviser to the Muslim Council of Elders, urged the international group of workshop participants to read the historic Document on Human Fraternity and apply its values in their own communities. 

“The Document calls for protecting human rights and human dignity and outlines the conditions our world needs to achieve global peace and interreligious solidarity. When implemented – through initiatives like the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity – the Document’s values can decrease conflict and increase peace across our world,” said H.E. Dieng, who also detailed the significant global impact the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has made since its launch in 2019 after Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar (Zayed Award honorary co-recipients) signed the Document on Human Fraternity under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

The Muslim Council of Elders is an independent international organization established to promote peace among Muslim communities and between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The Council unites Muslim scholars, experts and dignitaries known for their wisdom, understanding of justice, independence, and moderation. The MCE is led by Chairman the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam.

The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches – held in-person in Karlsruhe, Germany - opened on August 31, 2022, with a keynote speech by German federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and runs until September 8, 2022. Partners include the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the Protestant Church in Baden, the Council of Churches in Germany, the Union of Protestant Churches in Alsace and Lorraine (UEPAL), and the Protestant Church in Switzerland.