October 8, 2023

The former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Sukarnoputri, received the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, at her residence in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. During the meeting, the pair discussed the vital importance of enhancing the role of women in promoting the values of dialogue, peace, and coexistence.

Sukarnoputri, who is also a member of the judging committee for the 2024 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the tireless efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. She also commended the Council’s commitment to promoting peace, human fraternity, and addressing women’s issues and also emphasized the need to provide women with full opportunities and to harness their capabilities and potential, thereby contributing to the progress and development of nations and societies.

The former President of Indonesia also praised the United Arab Emirates and its exemplary model of coexistence and tolerance, acknowledging its significant role in serving humanity and advocating for issues within the Islamic world.

Furthermore, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders underscored that Indonesia, with its rich heritage and distinctive model of diversity and mutual coexistence and that the Council is eager to activate mutual cooperation with all segments of Indonesian society and disseminating the Indonesian experience in the region and globally. This objective, he noted, will be pursued by the council’s branch in Indonesia through various collaborations with major institutions and associations in the country.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses its condolences for the victims of the earthquake that struck the provinces of Herat and Badghis in Afghanistan. This tragic event has led to the loss of hundreds of lives and left many injured.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its deepest condolences to the Afghan people and the families of the victims, praying to the Almighty, in His infinite mercy, to grant the deceased peace, and to bestow swift recovery upon the injured

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar emphatically asserts that ongoing Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and the Al-Aqsa Mosque spell grave consequences, especially given the escalating Israeli aggression.

In a statement, the Muslim Council of Elders urgently implores the international community to intervene and halt Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the Al-Aqsa Mosque and called to support the Palestinian people’s rights to establish an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Council also issued a stern warning that persistent Israeli offenses against the Palestinian people will only exacerbate and intensify the situation. The Council also issuee a plea to the global community to shoulder their legal, ethical, and humanitarian responsibilities and bring an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. This is particularly urgent as the international community continues to maintain a distressing silence in response to such appeals.