The Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shaiyaa Al Sudani has hosted a delegation from the Muslim Council of Elders headed by the Council’s Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to counter extremist thought and the promotion of peace and coexistence. 

Al Sudani praised the Council’s role under the Chairmanship of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in combatting extremism and uniting the Islamic world. 

The Iraqi Prime Minister also emphasized the people of Iraq’s united stand in the face of sedition and discord by denouncing all forms of extremism, which in turn will bring an end to terrorism. He also pointed that Iraqis were able to overcome ISIS and its barbarism through unity and solidarity. 

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam expressed the Council's appreciation of all facets of Iraqi society for their ability to defeat terrorism through unity. Abdelsalam noted that the coming period will see more cooperation between the Council and Iraqi institutions that represent all components of Iraqi society through a wide-range of initiatives that promote religious fraternity and coexistence on local and international levels.

Judge Abdelsalam also presented the Iraqi Prime Minister the Muslim Council of Elders’ commemorative shield in recognition of his efforts to support peace. 

A delegation from the Muslim Council of Elders is currently visiting Iraq with the visit set to include a number of meetings with prominent Sunni and Shia religious leaders and scholars. The visit will feature meetings in Baghdad, Najaf and Erbil and aims to build productive channels of dialogue with all facets of Iraqi society and to heed calls by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Council to promote inter-Islamic dialogue and understanding.