Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb said in a meeting on Tuesday with the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo in the Indonesian capital Jakarta that the Muslim Council of Elders is in discussions to launch the ‘Alliance of Religions for Development and Peace” international initiative, according to Ahram Arabic news website.
Sheikh El-Tayyeb, the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, indicated that the global initiative – which comes in cooperation with the Republic of Indonesia – aims to enhance the role of religious leaders and symbols in supporting development and peace efforts.
El-Tayyeb previously signed the historic Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019 alongside the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis under the patronage of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, representing a joint declaration urging peace and coexistence among all human beings.
During the meeting held at the Presidential Palace of Merdeka in Jakarta, El-Tayyeb
said the cooperation with Indonesia in launching the initiative comes as Indonesia represents a pioneering Islamic model that combines development and prosperity with the preservation of religion and values.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian president has welcomed such an important initiative for his country, the Southeast Asia region, and the world, stressing Indonesia’s readiness to host it and provide all support to make it successful.
President Widodo also pointed out the importance of involving religions in achieving development and peace because religious leaders and symbols greatly influence millions of people worldwide.
Moreover, the president praised the council’s efforts in promoting global brotherhood and peace values.
He also expressed his happiness at opening a regional office for the council in Indonesia, stressing his confidence that this branch will be a distinguished platform for serving Southeast Asia Muslims.
Furthermore, El-Tayyeb noted that the council is keen to involve religions in spreadi
ng and promoting human values and to contribute positively to finding effective solutions to global issues and challenges.
During the meeting, both sides also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in spreading the values ??of dialogue, tolerance, and human coexistence.
Sheikh El-Tayyeb’s visit to Indonesia is part of his Southeast Asia tour, which includes Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Source: State Information Service Egypt