The MWL Secretary-General Delivers Keynote Address at G20 Interfaith Forum
Salt Lake City:
H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, participated as this year’s Guest of Honor and keynote speaker at the G20 Interfaith Forum, hosted by the US state of Utah in conjunction with the G20 Summit held in the United States.
The forum brought together religious leaders and their representatives. In his address, H.E. Sheikh Al-Issa highlighted the importance of religions’ contributions to promoting global peace and social cohesion, warning against the dangers of polarization in all its forms and manifestations.
He emphasized that religious leaders bear a particular responsibility, given that polarization, incitement, and violence are often fueled by distorted religious discourse.
H.E. Sheikh Al-Issa noted that the MWL has worked to help bridge the divides between nations and peoples and address their negative consequences. He highlighted, among its most prominent efforts, the “Building Bridges Between East and West” initiative, whose historic conference was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2023, with the participation of UN leaders and prominent religious, intellectual, and academic figures.
He further affirmed that efforts are ongoing to implement the conference’s outcomes, which aim to contribute to international efforts to promote peace and cooperation among nations and peoples and overcome challenges and threats based on their shared human values. These values formed the foundation of their collective commitment to the Charter of the United Nations on June 26, 1945, and the subsequent international agreements, treaties, charters, declarations, and resolutions.
H.E. Sheikh Al-Issa also reviewed several humanitarian initiatives implemented in cooperation with international organizations.
He further highlighted the World Economic Forum in Davos hosting, for the first time in its history, a dialogue session addressing the role of religions in tackling a range of international issues. He emphasized that this development reflects growing recognition of the importance of ensuring that religious diplomacy plays an active and effective role.
