Amid a large attendance of religious, literary, and academic figures, the Muslim Council of Elders organized a seminar on the main stage of the Iraq International Book Fair, under the title: “Islamic Dialogue: Unity in Diversity and the Responsibility of Joint Construction”, with the participation of Prof. Amer Shaker Al-Janabi, President of the Sunni Endowment Office in the Republic of Iraq. The session was moderated by Dr. Samir Boudinar, Director of the Al Hokama Center for Peace Research.
Dr. Boudinar opened the session with welcoming remarks that expressed appreciation for the attendees and the intellectual value of this meeting, stressing: “In this great cultural festival, in the land of civilizations and scholars, we renew the discussion about dialogue and Iraq’s exceptional experience in managing differences—a model worth studying and highlighting.” He pointed out that dialogue is not a rhetorical slogan but a civilizational necessity to ensure societies remain capable of creativity and progress despite the diversity of perspectives and jurisprudential and theological schools.
For his part, Dr. Amer Al-Janabi expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence the Grand Imam Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, affirming that the Council’s presence in an open cultural space like the Iraq International Book Fair represents a shift in dialogue from elites to the public. He said: “I am delighted to be in this vast space that turns the Iraq International Book Fair into a platform for wisdom, not just for books. The topic of this symposium is not an intellectual luxury; it comes after this nation has been overwhelmed by conflicts, crises, and challenges.”
Al-Janabi highlighted the Qur’anic roots of dialogue, affirming that dialogue is a deeply rooted principle in the history of divine messages, which is not negated by differences among schools and sects but rather embraced and guided. He noted that the history of the Islamic nation witnessed interaction among schools of jurisprudence, theology, and philosophy, and that diversity was a driver of knowledge, not a cause of division. He stressed the need to turn this diversity into a source of strength through scholars and religious institutions tasked with building awareness and managing differences.
He added that the foundation of the nation’s unity lies in agreement on fundamentals, while leaving wide room for interpretation in secondary matters—a historical tradition established by imams who differed in thought but agreed in heart. He emphasized that scholars are responsible for bringing ideas closer, expanding common ground, and involving youth to build a generation that believes difference is a mercy, not a flaw.
The President of the Sunni Endowment Office explained that demand for religious education is witnessing significant growth, and that developing curricula and re-reading heritage with a collective spirit is the best path to mature awareness. He added: “Religious education today is not the ‘yellow books’ as portrayed, but a system evolving with curricula and tools. We have hundreds of schools welcoming students from diverse backgrounds, and every year the demand grows remarkably.”
Al-Janabi concluded by affirming that Iraq has overcome ordeals that nearly tore it apart but rose thanks to scholars, intellectuals, and bearers of awareness, offering the world a lesson in the possibility of rebuilding after division.
He also made sure to visit the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Iraq International Book Fair, praising its excellent organization and the variety of intellectual and cultural publications it offers, calling on students, professors, scholars, and intellectuals to visit the pavilion and benefit from its rich content.
The Muslim Council of Elders is participating in the Iraq International Book Fair as part of its mission to promote peace, entrench values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation among people of different races and beliefs. The Council’s pavilion is located at Baghdad International Fairgrounds, Pavilion No. 16 – H6.