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Two-day congress to be held in Nur-Sultan, capital of Kazakhstan.

The 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has begun in the capital of Kazakhstan Nur-Sultan. The conference will run on the 14th and 15th of September under the theme ‘The role of leaders of world and traditional religions in the spiritual and social development of mankind in the post-pandemic period’.

The opening was attended by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as well as 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. Attendees to the opening ceremony have also issued a collective call to end all wars and conflicts and for peace to prevail globally. They also prayed that God Almighty helps humanity overcome environmental disasters.

With a total of 108 religious and world leaders from 60 different countries, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is held every three years and is considered one of the most important interfaith dialogue events in the world. Through prominent world and religious leaders, the event aims to promote moderate religious values while combatting intolerance and extremism.

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders will lead a high-level delegation to the capital of Kazakhstan Nur-Sultan to attend the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions which will take place on 14 and 15 September 2022 under the theme, ‘The role of leaders of world and traditional religions in the spiritual and social development of mankind in the post-pandemic period’. The Grand Imam’s visit comes after an official invitation from the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to attend and participate in the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and deliver a speech in its opening ceremony. The Grand Imam will also meet various senior public and religious officials in the central Asian nation during his visit. Along with meeting the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Presidential Palace in Nur-Sultan, the Grand Imam will also meet His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church who is also set to participate at the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The Grand Imam is also scheduled to visit a number of major landmarks in Kazakhstan including the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, the largest mosque in Central Asia. His Eminence will lead Dhuhur prayers at the mosque with other Islamic delegations in attendance. For his part, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam is set to participate in the 20th meeting of the general-secretariat of the congress, which will take place on Tuesday 13 September. Judge Abdelsalam is set to deliver a speech at the meeting to encourage the promotion coexistence and human fraternity among followers of different religions. The 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is set to be held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan on 14 – 15 September 2022. The event will be attended by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Co

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders has met Singaporean Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean alongside a delegation of Singaporean parliamentarians and diplomats in Singapore’s embassy in Cairo. During the meeting, the pair discussed various issues including global terrorism and intellectual ways to counter it, as well possible ways to combat climate change and the danger it poses to all future generations. The Grand Imam remarked that the world is currently facing many challenges and crises that can be addressed by leaning on religious voices and teachings. His Eminence added that attempts to sideline religion from society will likely fail, much like previous attempts that have gone against the unified will of the people. For his part, Teo Chee Hean expressed his delight at meeting and speaking with His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. He emphasized that the Grand Imam is an iconic figure not only for Muslims but for all moderate people from different cultural and racial backgrounds.

The Muslim Council of Elders under the Chairmanship of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb strongly condemns the terrorist attacks targeting a mosque in Herat, Afghanistan which resulted in the deaths and injuries of a number of innocent civilians.

The Council reiterates its categorical rejection of such terrorist attacks and violence, which contradict the teachings of all religions as well as international laws and norms protecting freedom of religion and prohibiting the targeting of places of worship. The Council also extends its condolences to the families of the attack while praying for a speedy recovery for the wounded.

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, has issued a decree selecting former President of Niger His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou as the newest member of the Council.

Issoufou served as the President of Niger from April 7, 2011 to April 2, 2021. Issoufou was also the prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994 and President of the African nation’s National Assembly from 1995 to 1996.

The former Nigerien politician was the 2020 recipient of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership for his efforts spearheading economic development in his country while also working for regional stability, as well as limiting his presidency to two terms, leading to the first ever democratic transition of power in Niger.

Issoufou said he was honored to be appointed to the Muslim Council of Elders while praising the Grand Imam’s trust in selecting him to the prestigious role.

Issoufou also remarked that the Council is playing an important role in supporting peace efforts and stability in Africa and around the world as well as combating all forms of extremism, hate, and racism, while also correcting misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

The Muslim Council of Elders is an independent international organization that promotes peace in Muslim communities by discouraging conflict and other issues leading to divisiveness. The Council is comprised of various Muslim scholars hailed for their wisdom, justice, independence, and moderateness. The Council strives to represent diverse Muslim communities and encourages reconciliation to prevent foreign intervention, divisiveness, and conflict among these communities.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam met the President of Italy’s Islamic Religious Community Imam Yahya Pallavicini at the Council’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

During the meeting, the pair discussed various ways to promote dialogue and counter hate speech and extremism. Imam Pallavicini also praised the Council’s steadfast support for Muslim communities in Europe as well as its strong efforts in interfaith dialogue by promoting the values of the historic Document on Human Fraternity.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam met with the President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Dr. Ali Erbaş in Abu Dhabi, as part of the latter’s participation in the ‘World Muslim Communities Council Conference’ in the United Arab Emirates capital city. During the meeting, the pair discussed possible cooperation methods to combat extremism and anti-religious sentiments, which have plagued various countries around the world.

Professor Erbaş praised the Muslim Council of Elders for its efforts to counter anti-religious movements, while noting Turkey’s willingness to participate in future initiatives by the Council that aim to spread dialogue, coexistence and acceptance.

For his part, Judge Abdelsalam said, “The Muslim Council of Elders is currently confronting numerous negative phenomena around the world, namely Islamophobia, racism and any form of extremism. The Council has launched various initiatives in the past to promote coexistence and human fraternity, with an anticipated international religious conference by the end of the current year.”