Azhar Imam: World needs intervention of monotheistic religions' scholars

Al Azhar Grand Imam Dr Ahmed el Tayyeb on Saturday said the world is in dire need of the intervention of scholars of the major monotheistic religions to ease its torment.

Delivering a speech at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, the grand imam added that unfair policies are messing with the path of the poor and the wretched and work on dismantling communities and confiscating the will of their people.

The heavenly messages emphasized the concept of peace and the need to spread it among people, Tayyeb said.

He affirmed the need for addressing attempts to use religion in spreading terror and violence.

Tayyeb took part in an interreligious dialogue addressing the theme "Towards an Integrated World", including a series of high-level discussions among the Muslim Council of Elders and representatives of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

A joint statement adopted by participants in the Geneva sessions pledged a continuation of practical cooperation among religious communities.

The statement added: "The overriding concern of the meeting was peace, and particularly the role of religions, religious leaders and faith-based organizations in creating a culture of peace and practices of peacemaking. As children of Abraham, we agree that humanity was created to share the gifts of love and compassion, peace and mercy, honesty and sincerity."

At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to continue and convene a following meeting in 2017 in Cairo.

Source: MENA