The Supreme Committee for Humanitarian Fraternity holds its second meeting in New York

The High Committee for Humanitarian Fraternity held its second global meeting yesterday in the Public Library in downtown New York, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and a number of senior UAE officials and representatives of a number of different institutions and partners.

During the meeting, which was held in conjunction with the start of the high-level segment of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the members of the High Committee reviewed their mission to promote the dissemination of a culture of mutual respect and dialogue among people of different religions, sects and nationalities. It is through joint efforts to explore ways in which goodwill people of all faiths and faiths can move towards promoting mutual understanding and global peace.

The newly formed Supreme Committee has the power to provide advice and guidance on the realization of the objectives of the "Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Coexistence", signed by His Holiness Pope Francis Pope, the Catholic Church and Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during their visit to Abu Dhabi. UAE in February this year.

During the meeting, the members of the Supreme Committee also reviewed the project of the "Abrahamic Family House" to be held on Saadiyat Island in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, which is one of the first initiatives called for by the Humanitarian Brotherhood document. The house will include a church, a mosque and a synagogue under one roof. It includes practices of exchanging dialogue and ideas among the followers of religions, in order to promote the values ​​of peaceful coexistence and acceptance among different faiths, nationalities and cultures.

He unveiled the special designs of this initiative, which is being handled by the internationally acclaimed architect and award-winning Sir David Agayi Obi.

Commenting on this historic initiative, His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Angel Ayoso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and Chairman of the Committee, said: “This endeavor has a profound impact on humanity. Unfortunately, news of hatred, hatred, evil and divisions dominate news reports from all over the world. Throughout the world, good hearts continue to fill our hearts and illuminate our way of building dialogue, sharing knowledge and realizing aspirations towards building a world of values ​​of brotherhood and peace, along with our partners of other faiths, men and women of goodwill. "

"On this occasion, I would like to thank the UAE for its tangible commitment to the Humanitarian Fraternity initiative."

For his part, Judge Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Salam, a member of the Supreme Committee and Secretary-General of the Committee and former adviser to the Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb Sheikh Al-Azhar that the formation of the Supreme Committee for Humanity fraternity came at an important time, and requires that all peace-loving to stand united to support efforts Spreading the culture of coexistence, fraternity and tolerance all over the world, expressing his happiness with this positive energy and spirit of determination in the principles of the human brotherhood document to establish security, coexistence and peace for all.

Judge Abdel Salam expressed his appreciation for the results of the meeting of His Holiness Pope Francis Pope with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in February, especially their expression of their common humanitarian concern, and their determination to work together to provide happiness to human beings. Were their ideological affiliations or nationalities.

He pointed out that he was greatly influenced by the touch of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, as well as His Holiness Pope Francis, in the first meeting that brought them a common interest in the suffering and suffering of man and their insistence on diligence in the rest of their lives in whatever delight of human beings, whatever their different religions and races.

Rabbi M. spoke. Bruce Lustig, Chief Rabbi of the Hebrew Synagogue in Washington, said: “This is an important opportunity for all who believe in the power of faith and human values. It will contribute to building bridges of communication between clergy and members of communities and promote peace and harmony, especially as we live in an era of divisiveness. ".

"I am honored to be part of this esteemed elite, where the work brings us together with one goal: to uphold the values ​​of love over hatred, justice over injustice, and faith over fear, stressing the importance of the" human brotherhood "initiative to reflect some negative concepts based on discrimination and hatred," he said. Any attack on any of the heavenly religions is an attack on the whole of humanity. "

Sir David Agayi, Founder and President of Agayi & Partners, said: “I am delighted and honored to have chosen to design this distinctive edifice, which will include three separate buildings, each of which will be dedicated to worshiping heavenly religion within a separate entrance from the main garden of the complex, as well as a fourth It will be a cultural museum in which the brotherhood of humanity will come together with different affiliations, and will provide educational programs and various activities, aimed at promoting cultural and human exchange and cooperation between religions and human brotherhood of different affiliations.

He revealed that the implementation of this unique historical project, which is currently the first steps of its implementation, will take three years to be opened in 2022 .. "I believe that the role of architecture is to give a distinctive character to the world we aspire to live, reflecting the values ​​of tolerance Openness and continuous development, architecture and the art of coordinating places can be the embodiment of the features of the place and the principles for which it was built, stimulate ways of dialogue, help us re-evaluate our current perceptions of the world around us, and explore the advantages that we can derive more meaningfully. ''

"As an architect, I am looking forward to designing a building that contributes to the elimination of concepts that nurture sectarian and religious differences, in the sense that the design must be of a holistic and global character, in a way that enhances the richness of human life, and we look forward to a plan for this edifice that includes elements The world will be open to people of all faiths from all over the world, and all communities to learn and communicate, bringing together a common message: Ayesh peaceful for future generations. "

The members of the Supreme Committee also agreed that the choice of this modern design for the Abrahamic Family House was based on a rigorous process, during which the opportunity to engage well-known architects around the world with diverse backgrounds and religions was noted. "It is a common place for cooperation, where informal gatherings are held, and as a contemporary design, it will reflect the goal set to create a place for future generations to attract future generations."

They stressed that this civilizational project will serve as a global cultural milestone, aimed at upholding the values ​​of diversity, understanding, love and tolerance, and at the same time gives humanity a platform for reflection and hope, and invoking the human mind and heritage of nations and peoples, regardless of their convictions, religions and beliefs.

On the other hand, members of the Supreme Committee revealed their future plan to encourage the United Nations to adopt the "Human Brotherhood Document" for world peace and coexistence, which was drafted and signed by the sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Pope of the Catholic Church during the World Conference of Humanitarian Fraternity hosted by the UAE. In February, we also set an international day to celebrate this important initiative, in order to activate the spread of peaceful coexistence and human brotherhood among human beings of all kinds and diversity.

His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi and a member of the Supreme Committee, stressed the importance of this document, which is one of the most important documents of the modern era, which aims to promote human brotherhood among the followers of the three religions.

Al-Mubarak urged the need to support the publication of this document, including in the media, to promote world peace and coexistence, pointing to the directives of the Higher Committee to encourage legislative authorities around the world to pay attention to the provisions of this document in their national legislation in order to consolidate the concepts of brotherly peace among the followers of religions. The three have the hearts of future generations.

He pointed to the current trends to promote the dissemination of this document in the sectors of education and leisure tourism in the UAE, whose legislation guarantees religious freedoms and diversity and openness on the largest scale, on the basis of mutual respect between different religions, cultures and civilizations among its population.

For his part, Monsignor Yoans Lahdhi Gayed, Personal Secretary of the Holy Father of the Catholic Church, a member of the Supreme Committee, pointed out that this document has been translated so far to about 12 different languages ​​around the world, and revealed the inclusion of its items in the curricula of a number of schools and Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

"His Holiness the Pope is very interested in studying ways to take the best measures to disseminate and apply this document on the ground, including its incorporation into the general educational curricula in order to establish its principles in the minds of young people and future generations," he said.

He pointed out the main principles contained in this important document, namely the concepts of equal rights and duties among all mankind, and the rejection of all forms of violence, especially against religions, minorities and nationalities.

The Supreme Committee for Humanitarian Fraternity includes Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayoso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Holy See, Dr. Mohamed Hussein El-Mersawi, President of Al-Azhar University, and Rabbi M. Sarkozy. Bruce Lustig, Chief Rabbi of the Hebrew Synagogue in Washington, Monsignor Yoannis Lahdhi Gayed, Pope's Personal Secretary, Judge Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Salam, Former Counselor of the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb Sheikh Al Azhar, His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Head of Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, and Dr. Sultan Faisal Mr. Al-Rumaithi, Secretary General of the Council of Muslim Elders, writer and presenter in the UAE, Mr. Yasser Hareb.