Muslim Council of Elders calls for action against Islamophobia

The Muslim Council of Elders, led by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, has called for urgent efforts to promote dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence in response to rising Islamophobia, extremism, and discrimination, WAM reported.

In a statement marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15, the council reaffirmed that Islam is a religion of peace and warned against far-right groups using anti-Muslim rhetoric for political gain.

The council urged global leaders to take meaningful steps against Islamophobia, including promoting dialogue between East and West, encouraging the positive integration of Muslims in their societies, and enacting laws that criminalize attacks on religious symbols and sanctities.

The statement emphasized that combating hate speech requires legal frameworks and global cooperation.

The Council reiterated that religious, racial, and cultural diversity is part of God’s divine will and should be respected to ensure global peace and coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders leads various initiatives to promote peace, including East-West dialogue tours, international peace convoys, the Emerging Peacemakers Forum (EPF), student programs on human fraternity, and Ramadan convoys worldwide.

The Document on Human Fraternity, signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi by Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Pope Francis, affirms freedom as a fundamental right, including freedom of belief, thought, and expression, while rejecting coercion in matters of faith and culture.