Cape town: The Muslim Council of Elders participated in the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20), hosted in Cape Town, South Africa, from August 10-14, under the theme “Ubuntu in Action: Focusing on Marginalised Communities.” The Council expressed its support for the G20 Interfaith Forum’s call to “leave no one behind,” particularly in the areas of food security, migration, and the economic and spiritual dimensions of justice. It called on religious leaders to issue a collective call to return to the values of justice and peace, and to work towards halting all wars and conflicts for a better future for humanity.

According to Bahrain News Agency, the Forum brings together a coalition of global voices committed to shaping inclusive and ethical policies, and is attended by religious leaders, civil society organisations, government officials, multilateral institutions, and scholars, to explore joint solutions to pressing global challenges. In its address during the opening session, the Muslim Council of Elders stressed the important role religious leaders can play in addressing the challenges facing the world today, including disputes, wars, and conflicts, calling for a multi-level understanding of relationship dynamics, including those of violence and peace.

The Secretary-General of the Council, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, in a speech delivered by Adama Dieng, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and advisor to the Muslim Council of Elders, stated: "The time has come to call for justice for our planet, particularly in light of the suffering of the Palestinian people, and the spread of wars and conflicts that have left tens of thousands dead, injured, and displaced, which represents a real test of our shared humanity."

He explained that the Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, is leading intensive efforts to promote peace, social cohesion, and ethical leadership, from a value-based and practical perspective that emphasises the importance of faith in addressing pressing global challenges, the importance of interfaith dialogue, youth empowerment, and the promotion of the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.