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The Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) concluded its participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair 2022 – the 41st edition of the event held in the United Arab Emirates.

The Council’s active and remarkable participation in the book fair attracted strong turnout and engagement with visitors – including families, researchers, and students – over a period of 12 days. 

The MCE pavilion showcased various publications and received a number of important international publishers as well as experts from universities and research centers. 

The participation highlighted the Council’s mission to correct misconceptions, combat hate speech, racism, and intolerance, promote dialogue between East and West and advance coexistence.

During the Sharjah International Book Fair, the MCE pavilion organized a cultural symposium entitled “Women and the Culture of Tolerance.” The symposium focused on the role of civil society and religious institutions in empowering women and promoting the values of tolerance and human fraternity, as well as the role of women in spreading the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence at the international and societal levels. 

Dr. Ouided Bouchamaoui, a successful entrepreneur, Nobel Peace Laureate, and member of the 2023 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity judging committee, was one of the lecturers.

This marks the second time that the MCE has participated with a special pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair, which aligns with the MCE’s aim to promote peace, consolidate the values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation between people of different backgrounds and beliefs.

The University of Humanities and Law in Kazakhstan (KAZGUU) awarded the degree of honorary professorship to Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, in recognition of his efforts spreading the values of coexistence, dialogue, and human fraternity around the globe.

In a speech entitled, “Peacebuilding dialogue on legal foundations in light of global challenges,” the MCE Secretary-General expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the prestigious University for Humanities and Law for granting him the honorary professorship. He said he was honored by the degree as it is associated with education – the most honorable mission in life that follows in the footsteps of the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) who was sent as a teacher for all humankind.

Judge Abdelsalam added that the importance of this honor also stems from the symbolism of the location, as the hall hosting the ceremony bears the name of the late founder of the United Arab Emirates, the wise Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him. 

Sheikh Zayed was an outstanding figure who worked hard and sincerely to build the values of tolerance and pluralism in his society, according to Judge Abdelsalam, who said that Sheikh Zayed made the UAE an excellent model of tolerance – advancing peace, coexistence, and human fraternity across the world.

The Secretary-General stressed the importance of communicating with young people – describing youth as an everlasting source of energy and hope – especially students who represent a vital source of ideas and optimism for a better future. He emphasized the importance of dialogue with young people and exchanging visions and ideas with them, which is necessary today in an age of nonstop information, which can overwhelm and distract the minds of youth. Such torrential flow of information can hinder young people from asking life’s deepest questions and envisioning new ways to achieve a better future for humanity.

Judge Abdelsalam said that the Muslim Council of Elders counts on the role of the youth in spreading the values of peace and coexistence, adding that the Council aims to overcome the current challenges facing the world through a vision that considers justice as a cornerstone and condition of peace. 

The Council has a number of global initiatives that have shaped major events to serve humanity, culminating in the signing of the historic Abu Dhabi Document of Human Fraternity, which was signed by Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and his brother, His Holiness Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, under the kind patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

At the conclusion of his speech, the MCE Secretary-General called on youth to have hope and stay on the path of knowledge, tolerance, and coexistence. He said that young people should believe in humanity’s ability to face challenges, their God-given capabilities, and the guidance revealed to humanity that has sparked faith and knowledge, which are the most precious assets for a better future.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Chairman of the N. Nazarbayev Centre on the development of interfaith and inter-civilization dialogue Bulat Sarsenbayev. The aim of the MOC is to promote cooperation in the fields of interreligious and intercultural dialogue specifically in Central Asia as well as coordinating efforts towards correcting misconceptions and spreading tolerance and coexistence amongst young people. 

The Chairman of the N. Nazarbayev Centre on the development of interfaith and inter-civilization dialogue Bulat Sarsenbayev praised the Muslim Council of Elders under the Chairmanship of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb for its role promoting dialogue and coexistence. He also noted the Grand Imam’s recent participation at the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions which was held in Kazakhstan in September as well the recent participation the ‘Bahrain Dialogue Forum’ which saw His Eminence once again meet with His Holiness Pope Francis and other leaders of the Catholic Church.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam noted the memorandum of cooperation between the N. Nazarbayev Centre on the development of interfaith and inter-civilization dialogue will no doubt positively impact the spread of coexistence, tolerance, and peace in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Abdelsalam also praised Kazakhstan’s important role in consolidating interreligious and intercultural dialogue and the positive results of the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions which was held in September in the capital Nur-Sultan and the event’s adoption of the Document on Human Fraternity as an important source for interreligious and intercultural dialogue.

The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates Madyar Menelikov as well as the Chargé d’Affairs of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Kazakhstan Ammar Omar Al Breiki and representatives from the Kazakh President’s Office along with Dr. Samir Boudinar, Executive Director of the Al-Hokama Center for Peace and Research

Grand Imam gifts His Holiness Pope Francis painting of a section of the Document on Human Fraternity

Pope Francis gifts Grand Imam with a model olive tree

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church have exchanged gifts during their recent historic visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain and participation in the ’Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence’.

The Grand Imam and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders presented His Holiness Pope Francis with a painting of a section from the historic Document on Human Fraternity which was co-signed by the two religious symbols in Abu Dhabi in February 2019. The painting features some of the most prominent values within the Document including: dialogue between east and west, peace, spreading tolerance, coexistence, cooperation, fraternity and love. The painting also includes the last sentence within the Document.

The painting is the work of world-renowned calligrapher and muralist Diaa Allam, who holds the Guinness record for the longest glow-in-the-dark mural in the world. The painting features royal Arabic calligraphy typically used for official titles as well as Islamic inscriptions, manuscripts, and architecture.

For his part, His Holiness Pope Francis gifted the Grand Imam with a model olive tree made of iron and featuring a gold leaf. Known as the ‘Tree of Life, it carries with it the historic meanings of peace, purity, and solace. It was gifted to the Grand Imam as a symbolic wish for a longstanding and prosperous relationship between the pair.

The Grand Imam and Pope Francis had conducted an official meeting during their recent visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain and participation in the ’Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence’ which came following an official invitation from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting is considered the seventh leg of the ‘Dialogue between East and West which was organized by the Muslim Council of Elders and aims to promote global coexistence and peace.

The Muslim Council of Elders has hosted a seminar at the Sharjah International Book Fair titled ‘Women and the Culture of Tolerance’ featuring Tunisian businesswoman, 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Judging Committee member Wided Bouchamaoui and Dubai TV presenter Naoufer Ramoul.

The seminar discussed the role of civil and religious organizations in empowering women as well as spreading tolerance and human fraternity within society. It also discussed the role of women in spreading tolerance and coexistence on social and international levels in order to foster future generations and minimize all forms of global conflict. 

During the seminar, Dr. Wided Bouchamaoui emphasized the important role of women in spreading and promoting tolerance and coexistence amongst societies. This is achieved, she argues, by teaching many moral principles to future generations and by performing societal responsibilities in all walks of life. 

Bouchamaoui added that women have long had influential roles in helping achieve peace through their various efforts and initiatives be at home or within the community. She also called on women to maximize efforts to achieve growth and stability in their communities. 

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating at the 41st Sharjah International Book Fair 2022  from the 2nd until the 13th of November. The participation comes as part of His Eminence the Grand Imam’s vision of promoting dialogue and spreading tolerance and peace globally. 

The Council’s stand at the Sharjah International Book Fair can be found in Hall 6, stand L13 at the Sharjah Expo Center in the United Arab Emirates.