The Muslim Council of Elders has taken part in the 14th World Congress of Families in Mexico City to discuss issues surrounding the role of religious leaders in maintaining the family structure in societies around the world. 

During the congress, Dr. Tarik Shaaban, representative of the Muslim Council of Elders and former head of the Al-Azhar center for countering extremist thought said, “The Document on Human Fraternity, which was 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, Pontiff of the Catholic Church under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, calls for a strong focus on maintaining family values and the correct upbringing of children. It is important to protect the family structure from any attempt to destroy it in order to foster future generations that can be immune to extremism, hatred and discrimination. Young people must be careful from any calls that contradict family values and call for alternatives to the traditional family structure.”

The four-day conference hosted over 50 renowned experts, as well as political, social and religious leaders, specializing in marriage, family and religious freedom issues, who in turn took part in various discussion panels and networking events. 

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders has in the past placed a special emphasis on maintaining family values by warning against targeted campaigns aimed at young people which discourage them against marriage and building families. The Grand Imam has also called on young people to preserve family structures as the focal points of our societies and future.