ABU DHABI, 30th April 2025 (WAM) -- As part of its cultural and intellectual programme at the 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, the Muslim Council of Elders hosted a seminar titled, "The Message of Religions for Coexistence and Peace."

The seminar featured a distinguished panel including Dr. Maria Mohammed Al Hatali, Secretary-General of the UAE Council for Fatwa; Dr. Mahmoud Najah, Imam and preacher of Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque at the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi; Rev. Bishoy Fakhri, Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Anthony in Abu Dhabi; and S.P. Singh, Chief Sikh Priest and Director-General of the Sikh Temple in the UAE.

Opening the seminar, Dr. Maria Al Hatali expressed her appreciation for the Muslim Council of Elders' efforts to amplify the voice of religions in addressing global challenges and countering hate speech and violence.

She emphasised the importance of shared religious values, such as belief in human dignity, freedom of belief, citizenship, and justice, noting that these values are common to Islam and other divine traditions.

She further explained that extremist groups have distorted religious texts to manipulate and recruit youth, pointing out that 80% of recruitment and radicalisation takes place through social media platforms.

Dr. Al Hatali stressed the urgent need to renew religious discourse so that it is balanced, relevant, and capable of engaging young people through the digital platforms they use.
Dr. Mahmoud Najah expressed thanks to the UAE for its pioneering efforts in promoting human fraternity and fostering a culture of coexistence and mutual respect.

He praised the mission of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, for its commitment to peacebuilding and the promotion of dialogue, tolerance, and human coexistence.

Rev. Bishoy Fakhri underscored that peace is the essence of faith, not a secondary option. He stated, "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 expressed his regret that religion is at times misused as a tool for violence and hatred, and he called for the dissemination of religious messages through modern digital platforms to reach younger generations in a language they understand.

S.P. Singh, Chief Sikh Priest and Director General of the Sikh Temple in the UAE, praised the Muslim Council of Elders for its message of human fraternity, interfaith dialogue, and global peace. He affirmed that the teachings of religions emphasise the unity of humanity, despite cultural and linguistic differences.

The Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion at the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair presents more than 250 diverse intellectual and cultural publications, including a number of the latest releases from Al-Hokama Publishing in 2025. These publications address the most prominent intellectual and cultural issues, stemming from the Council's mission aimed at promoting peace and instilling the values of dialogue, tolerance, and human coexistence.