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President Joko Widodo of Indonesia received Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, along with a delegation of council members, at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday. He congratulated the Muslim Council of Elders on the official opening of its office in Indonesia and commended the council for organizing the ‘Religions and Climate Change’ conference for the countries of Southeast Asia. President Widodo also expressed his support for COP28, which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates at the end of the year.

During the meeting, President Widodo praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in promoting peace and coexistence. He also recognized the significant initiative of the council in formulating a common vision for the leaders and symbols of religions regarding the issue of climate change and emphasized his strong belief in the importance of interfaith dialogue and expressed his intention to visit the Faith Pavilion at COP28.

President Widodo also expressed his nation’s great appreciation for the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, in promoting coexistence and human fraternity. He further praised that the historical Abu Dhabi Document of Human Fraternity, which was co-signed by His Eminence the Grand Imam and His Holiness Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi in 2019. He also expressed his delight in the collaboration between the Muslim Council of Elders’ branch in Indonesia and academic and religious institutions in the country to disseminate and enhance the values of fraternity and coexistence regionally and globally.

For their part, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, and the council’s delegation conveyed their appreciation on behalf of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, to the nation of Indonesia, its leadership, and people. The delegation affirmed that Indonesia holds a special place in the hearts of all Muslims, not only due to its vast land and population, but also because of its rich history, unique civilization, and inspiring tale of stability, development, and coexistence.

The Secretary-General and the council’s delegation also expressed their gratitude to President Widodo for embracing the regional branch of the Muslim Council of Elders, which will serve as an effective channel of communication with other Southeast Asian nations. They also praised Indonesia for hosting the ‘Religions and Climate Change’ conference and for its leading efforts in addressing climate change. They further emphasized that the Muslim Council of Elders will closely work with Indonesian governmental, international, and civil institutions, including Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, among others, to fulfil its mission of promoting peace and spreading the values of dialogue, coexistence, and fraternity.

The delegation of council members included His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, member of the Muslim Council of Elders and former Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, Dr. Ahmed Al-Haddad, member of the Muslim Council of Elders and head of the Fatwa Department in Dubai, Dr. Muhammad Zainul-Majdi, member of the Executive Office of the Muslim Council of Elders, and Dr. Mukhlis Hanafi, Director of the Indonesian branch of the Muslim Council of Elders.

Muslim Council of Elders Officially Inaugurates its Regional Branch in Indonesia Amidst the Presence of Officials, Religious Leaders, and Ambassadors to Southeast Asia

The Muslim Council of Elders has opened its regional office for Southeast Asia in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, this Wednesday morning. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders,  along with a distinguished group of officials, religious leaders, and ambassadors to Southeast Asian countries. Prominent attendees included H.E. Dr. Yusuf Kalla, former Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia; Dr. Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Minister of Religious Affairs; H.E. Abdullah Salem Obeid Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia; and H.E. Ashraf Mohamed Moguib Sultan, Egypt’s Ambassador to Indonesia. The gathering also saw participation from various representatives of Arab, Islamic, and Southeast Asian nations, as well as numerous religious scholars, academics, university leaders focused on environmental and interfaith issues, and delegates from Al-Azhar in Indonesia.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, stated that the official launch of this branch aligns with the Council’s mission and objectives under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. The Council endeavors to promote values of dialogue, tolerance, peace, and human coexistence.

The Secretary-General highlighted that the Jakarta branch, inaugurated today, will function as an effective communication channel with all Southeast Asian countries. It will actively participate in organizing a series of inspiring events and initiatives, emphasizing Indonesia’s pivotal role in fostering tolerance and mutual coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders boasts regional branches in Malaysia and Pakistan. The Indonesian branch has been operating virtually since 2021, with the goal of establishing effective platforms for engagement with countries and regions globally, emphasizing the promotion of peace in both Muslim and non-Muslim communities. It further aims to advance dialogue, tolerance, mutual coexistence, and human fraternity.

It is noteworthy that the official inauguration of the Muslim Council of Elders’ branch in Indonesia coincides with the launch of the “Religions and Climate Change” conference. Organized by the Council, this conference hosted 150 representatives from various religions in Southeast Asia, as well as scholars, intellectuals, and youth leaders concerned with climate change issues. The objective of the conference was to underscore the role of religions in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change.

The Muslim Council of Elders is an independent international entity chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. Founded in Abu Dhabi in 2014, the Council is comprised of eminent  Muslim scholars and intellectuals known for their justice, wisdom, and moderation

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, emphasizes the need for unifying efforts to spread a culture of tolerance, coexistence, and peace, and to reject all forms of violence, prejudice, hatred, and discrimination. It also noted that peace is the only path to progress for nations and peoples.

In a statement marking the International Day of Non-violence, observed by the United Nations on October of every year, the Council stated that the world is facing a true challenge in the midst of the proliferation of calls for violence, bigotry, hatred, and wars and conflicts that resulted in millions of refugees, displaced, and homeless people. The Council also calls for amplifying the voices of wisdom, coexistence, and dialogue.

Under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Muslim Council of Elders exerts numerous efforts to eradicate violence and promote the values of peace, as stipulated in the historic Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity which was co-signed by His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and His Holiness Pope Francis in 2019. The Document calls on world leaders, international policymakers, and the global economy to seriously work on spreading a culture of tolerance, coexistence, peace, and to intervene immediately to stop bloodshed, and to halt the current world’s wars, conflicts, environmental degradation, and cultural and moral decline.

The Muslim Council of Elders also works on several initiatives aimed at disseminating and enhancing the values of peace, such as the International Peace Convoys that have traversed all continents of the world to correct misconceptions and confront extremist ideologies. Additionally, the Emerging Peacemakers Forums targets a generation of young people capable of promoting peace in their respective communities around the world.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has met with various leaders and representatives of different religions in India. The meeting took place during his participation at the Youth Summit on Human Fraternity and Compassion, held in the state of Rajasthan in India.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General emphasized that diversity is a divine decree and that faith in this diversity urges us to show compassion, empathy, and solidarity towards one another. He also stressed the importance of collectively spreading the values of dialogue and mutual respect amongst humanity. He further affirmed that any attempts to impose a religion or set of beliefs on all people contradicts divine will.

Judge Abdelsalam also noted that religions leaders and symbols must set an example by promoting the importance of unity, human fraternity, and upholding all moral values. He highlighted the need to elevate the values of tolerance and coexistence among all people while noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that no one is truly secure alone and that we all face a shared and common destiny and set of challenges. He further emphasized that together, we can work towards alleviating the suffering of the deprived, weak, poor, displaced, and the persecuted in compliance with our own human fraternity.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders is participating in the Youth Summit on Human Fraternity and Compassion, which spans over three days, with the participation of over 500 Indian youth. The event features prominent speakers from India and different parts of the world, including previous honorees of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the twin terrorist attacks that occurred in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.

The Council affirms its unequivocal rejection of such terrorist acts that contradict religious teachings, divine laws and international norms that criminalize attacks on innocent civilians and places of worship. The Council also calls for a strong response to terrorism and to eradicate its roots.

The Muslim Council of Elders expresses its deepest condolences to the state of Pakistan, its leadership, government, and people, as well as to the families of the victims, whilst wishing the injured a swift recovery.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, is organizing a conference to address the role of religions in combating the negative effects of climate change. The event is set to be attended by 150 representatives from various religions in Southeast Asia, as well as scholars, thinkers, and youth engaged in climate change issues. The conference is themed: “Reviving Religious Values and Local Cultures in Addressing Climate Change for Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development.”

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, stated that this conference is part of a series of events organized by the Council to engage representatives of different religions in discussions and solutions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and raising awareness about its risks. He noted that this regional conference is in preparation for the World Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, scheduled for November 6th and 7th in Abu Dhabi, in anticipation of the COP28 conference, which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates at the end of the current year, where for the first time in the history of COP conferences, the Muslim Council of Elders will host a ‘Faith Pavilion’ as a global platform for interfaith dialogue on addressing climate change.

His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, member of the Muslim Council of Elders and former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, emphasized that the world is currently facing the dangers of climate change due to natural and environmental damages. He pointed out that the repercussions of climate change are now tangible and real, evident in droughts, global warming, polar ice melt, and rising sea levels. He also urged all individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and different religions to work together to increase the focus on environmental cleanliness and prevent the spread of pollution on a wider scale. He further emphasized that efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change are no longer confined to the scientific and technological aspects alone; there is an urgent need for the involvement of religious figures, scholars, and intellectuals to raise awareness about this humanitarian issue.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Zainul Majdi, member of the Executive Office of the Muslim Council of Elders, clarified that the conference, which enjoys wide-ranging official, popular, and religious support from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia, will also discuss several important topics including: The State and Climate Change Challenges: Vision, Strategy, and Action; Towards Green Religion: How do religious beliefs contribute to building societal awareness for environmental conservation?; The role of religious institutions and figures in alleviating the effects of climate change; The urgency of religious awareness policies in overcoming the environmental and climate crisis; Religion, Science, and Climate Change: Perspectives and Experiences; Together to Save the Earth: Unifying consciousness, responsibility, and cooperation among world countries to overcome the environmental and climate crisis.

The conference is also expected to generate a number of strategic and effective recommendations to enhance efforts in preventing the negative repercussions of climate change, based on the best practices in Indonesia and Southeast Asian countries. These recommendations will then be presented at the World Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders organized by the Muslim Council of Elders in Abu Dhabi next November. Additionally, recommendations will also be submitted to the ASEAN Secretariat, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the United Nations General Secretariat as well as being presented at the Asia-Europe Meeting on Climate Change.

The Muslim Council of Elders is an independent international body chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. Established in Abu Dhabi in 2014, its aim is to promote peace in both Muslim and non-Muslim societies. The Council includes various Islamic figures known for their justice and moderation, and seeks to promote the values of tolerance, coexistence, and mutual respect among all people.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, stressed the importance of the role played by religious leaders, symbols, and institutions in promoting harmony between individual and public rights within societies and states, and in emphasizing the importance of dialogue between different regions and cultures on inclusive citizenship and freedom of religion and belief.

In his speech at the ‘Euro-MENA Dialogue on Inclusive Citizenship and Freedom of Religion and Belief: Bridging and Advancing the two agendas’, which was held in cooperation with the British and Italian Foreign Ministries and a number of institutions in the field of interfaith dialogue and representatives of different religions, the Secretary-General said that the Muslim Council of Elders is working to ensure these rights and to emphasize the role of religious leaders in addressing global challenges, including the right to a steady climate, through addressing the effects of climate change and raising awareness of its effects. The participation of the Council in the upcoming COP28 summit in Dubai, which will be preceded by a summit for religious leaders also represents a new stage in strengthening the presence of religious and moral discourse in addressing climate change, both intellectually and institutionally.

Judge Abdelsalam added that the hope is to be able to work in a similar way on all other issues of human rights, including the agenda of inclusive citizenship and freedom of religion and belief, which are rooted in religions, and to work through partnership and cooperation formulas in a way that reconciles the convictions of conscience with the requirements of citizenship, with all its rights and duties. This is a hope that drives everyone to continue working and cooperating with all wills and institutions, he stressed.

The Secretary-General further explained that this meeting reflects a cultural awareness and institutional will to reconcile the goals of inclusive citizenship and freedom of religion and belief. In a region of important global cultural communication that brings together Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, the three shores of the Mediterranean, which has represented the descent of the heavenly messages, the cradle of human philosophies throughout history, and a promising horizon for interaction and cooperation. He also noted that despite the positive indicators of the growth of awareness of them, the reconciliation between them still faces a double challenge, which is represented in preconceived stereotypes, and the extent to which religions and different cultures contribute to the establishment of human dignity, fraternity, and coexistence within the framework of full citizenship relationships, which is what the Muslim Council of Elders is working towards. This, he noted, is also stipulated in the Document of Human Fraternity, which was co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Additionally, the Secretary-General called for the need to work to invest the potential of religions and the ability of their symbols in order to influence the consolidation of that integrated system of freedoms and public rights, since no components can succeed or be consolidated in legislation and social practice without the other, especially since it needs to deal with cultural, geographical, and identity elements that need moral and symbolic legitimacy to overcome them.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, extends its congratulations to the Arab and Islamic worlds, as well as the entire world, on the occasion of the noble Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday.

The Council affirms that the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a momentous event that marked a significant turning point in human history as he was sent as a mercy and a light to all worlds, guiding people from darkness to light, spreading the values of peace, justice, tolerance, and coexistence among humanity. As mentioned in the Holy Quran: {And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.}

On this occasion, the Muslim Council of Elders calls upon the Islamic Ummah to emulate the noble characterstics of the Prophet, as stated in the Quran: {And indeed, you are of a great moral character.}. It also encourages reviving the Prophetic Sunnah, studying his life, and following his guidance in all aspects of our lives. The Council affirms that the divine and ethical knowledge enriched by the teachings of the Prophethood constitute the roadmap to salvation for Arabs, Muslims, and the entire world.

Furthermore, the Muslim Council of Elders calls upon the Western world to engage in a fair stydy of the life of the Prophet (PBUH) and to abandon all forms of racism, hatred, discrimination while refraining from disrespecting religious symbols, sanctities, and scriptures.

Muslim Council of Elders Calls for Enacting Binding International Legislation Criminalizing Religious Insults and the Desecration of Sacred Texts

Muslim Council of Elders Affirms that Repeated Offenses against Religions Undermine Efforts to Promote Values of Dialogue, Tolerance, and Coexistence

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the tearing of the Holy Quran by extremists in front of several embassies in The Hague. The Council also emphasizes that such criminal acts reflect a repugnant racism and a vile hatred towards Islam and Muslims.

The Muslim Council of Elders affirms its categorical rejection of such provocative acts that offend the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world, specifically during the celebration of the Noble Prophet’s birthday. The Council calls upon Western nations to have a fair understanding of Islam and its tolerant teachings and not rely on defaming Islamic sanctities under false pretense of “freedom of expression”.

The Muslim Council of Elders calls for the necessity of enacting binding international legislation that criminalizes the denigration of religions and sacred texts. It also urges the confrontation of all forms of bigotry, hatred, and Islamophobia, as they undermine efforts aimed at spreading and promoting the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, acceptance, and respect for others.