Int’l conference on interfaith dialogue kicks off in Cairo with call for respect

Islam is not a separate belief from other divine religions. “Islam has established peace as a principle for treatment between Muslims and non-Muslims Grand Imam of Al-Azhar said

The 31st edition of the international conference on interfaith dialogue kicked off in Cairo Saturday, bringing together hundreds of religious officials, experts and researchers from around the world.

The conference, organised by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, an affiliate of the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments, and sponsored by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, has on its agenda a wide range of issues including how the adherents of the different religions and cultures can live in peace and understanding with each other. It also focuses on the concept of dialogue and its objectives and the effect of constructive dialogue on combating terrorism and human peacemaking.

Addressing the opening session of the conference, Egyptian Minister of Religious Endowments Mohahmed Mukhtar Gomaa noted that the conference is organised at the invitation ofthe Egyptian president who called for an international dialogue based on common values among humans, one that respects religious and cultural specificity of states and societies.

“We always emphasise the importance of good neighborly relations between individuals and states,” Minister Gomaa said. “We need to respect the borders of other countries as we do with the borders of other people’s homes.”

He added that dialogue makes people respect each other.

Constructive dialogue, the Egyptian minister said, is what creates understanding and respect between individuals, states and peoples.

In his speech, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb said  Islam is not a separate belief from other divine religions. “Islam has established peace as a principle for treatment between Muslims and non-Muslims,” he said.

Deputy Sheikh of Al Azhar Mohamed el-Dawini has stressed Al Azhar is rejecting the theory of clash of civilizations and calls for establishing a genuine peace among people.