His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, participated in the World Council meeting of Religions for Peace, held in Istanbul, Turkey. The gathering convened prominent religious leaders and institutions worldwide to address urgent global challenges, including conflict, inequality, environmental degradation, health crises, pandemics, and injustice, through dialogue, cooperation, and coordinated efforts rooted in shared spiritual, ethical, and humanitarian principles.
In his address, the Muslim Council of Elders expressed deep appreciation for Religions for Peace’s role in drawing inspiration from religious teachings to foster peace and coexistence. Judge Abdelsalam emphasized that this meeting occurs at a pivotal moment in human history, as the world grapples with interconnected crises, such as crippling debt, severe environmental imbalances, prolonged conflicts, and the multifaceted challenge of artificial intelligence. This technology offers significant opportunities but also poses risks to human consciousness and dignity, prompting religious leaders to revisit a fundamental question: What does it mean to be human in today’s world, and what responsibilities does this entail?
Judge Abdelsalam, who also serves as Co-President of Religions for Peace, noted that for over five decades, the organization has been a resonant voice for the human conscience, a platform for dialogue, a bridge for mutual understanding, and a space for collective action. Today, it is called to transition from issuing moral warnings to proposing practical solutions—not only advocating for values but translating them into actionable frameworks for public policy, education, economic governance, technology, and beyond.
He highlighted the “Shared Sacred Prosperity” initiative as a transformative approach, redefining well-being and development beyond mere economic metrics. This vision prioritizes human dignity, harmony with others, environmental balance for sustainability, and spiritual integration. The Muslim Council of Elders believes this initiative should be implemented through clear, actionable mechanisms.
Judge Abdelsalam proposed establishing national multi-religious councils for shared prosperity, supporting joint educational programs that integrate religious philosophy with technological ethics, and developing a global charter for AI ethics with contributions from religious communities. This charter would serve as a binding ethical framework for international organizations and major corporations. The Muslim Council of Elders, in collaboration with Al-Azhar and the Catholic Church, is working to launch a joint document on AI ethics.
Judge Abdelsalam also called for a global interfaith alliance to restructure debt, particularly for the world’s poorest nations, grounded in principles of justice and compassion. This alliance would influence international financial institutions to reassess debt programs that unjustly burden entire populations. He emphasized that the debt crisis strangling nations is not solely an economic issue but a moral and humanitarian one, requiring collective action.
In closing, the Council’s statement underscored that religious leaders are not only spiritual voices but also active partners in shaping the future. They bear a dual responsibility: to uphold values and contribute to constructive solutions. Therefore, they must collaborate to create a world defined by dignity, governed by justice, thriving through cooperation, and reflecting God’s will for goodness and peace.
The meeting’s final statement urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the cessation of wars and conflicts, the promotion of peace and development, and the empowerment of women and youth to address global challenges. It reaffirmed the vital role of religious leaders in fostering peace and coexistence. The Muslim Council of Elders’ participation aligns with its mission to promote peace, dialogue, tolerance, and human fraternity.
