Muslim Council Of Elders Hosts Seminar On Religions For Coexistence And Peace At Abu Dhabi Book Fair

The Muslim Council of Elders organised a seminar titled "The Message of Religions for Coexistence and Peace" during the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. The event featured notable speakers such as Dr. Maria Mohammed Al Hatali, Secretary-General of the UAE Council for Fatwa, and Dr. Mahmoud Najah, Imam at the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. Other participants included Rev. Bishoy Fakhri from the Coptic Orthodox Church and S.P. Singh, Chief Sikh Priest in the UAE.

Dr. Maria Al Hatali opened the seminar by commending the Muslim Council of Elders for its dedication to amplifying religious voices against global challenges like hate speech and violence. She highlighted shared religious values such as human dignity, freedom of belief, citizenship, and justice, which are common across Islam and other divine traditions. Dr. Al Hatali also noted that extremist groups often distort religious texts to recruit youth, with 80% of radicalisation occurring via social media.

Dr. Mahmoud Najah expressed gratitude to the UAE for its leadership in promoting human fraternity and fostering coexistence and mutual respect. He praised the Muslim Council of Elders' mission under Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb's chairmanship for its dedication to peacebuilding and dialogue promotion. The council's efforts aim to nurture tolerance and human coexistence globally.

Rev. Bishoy Fakhri emphasised that peace is central to faith rather than a secondary choice. He remarked, "We live in a world overwhelmed by the noise of division, yet as followers of divine religions, we carry the light of peace and love." He lamented that religion is sometimes misused for violence and hatred, advocating for spreading religious messages through digital platforms to engage younger audiences effectively.

S.P. Singh lauded the Muslim Council of Elders for promoting human fraternity, interfaith dialogue, and global peace. He affirmed that despite cultural and linguistic differences, religious teachings underscore humanity's unity. This message aligns with the council's broader mission to foster understanding among diverse communities worldwide.

The Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion at the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair showcases over 250 intellectual and cultural publications from Al-Hokama Publishing's latest releases in 2025. These works address significant intellectual issues aligned with the council’s mission to promote peace while instilling values like dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence among people.

With inputs from WAM