His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, participated as this year’s Guest of Honor and keynote speaker at the G20 Religion Forum, hosted by the U.S. state of Utah in conjunction with the G20 Summit in the United States.
The forum brought together religious leaders and their representatives. In his address, His Excellency highlighted the importance of the contribution of religions to promoting global peace and social cohesion, warning against the dangers of polarization in all its forms and manifestations.
Dr. Al-Issa also emphasized that religious leaders bear a special responsibility, noting that polarization, incitement, and violence often invoke distorted religious discourse to justify their agendas.
His Excellency also highlighted the MWL’s efforts to help bridge the divides between nations and peoples. Among its key initiatives in this regard is the Building Bridges of Understanding and Cooperation between East and West initiative, whose historic conference was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2023, with the participation of UN leaders and prominent religious, intellectual, and research figures.
Moreover, Sheikh Al-Issa affirmed that work is ongoing to implement the conference’s outcomes, which aim to contribute to international efforts to promote peace and cooperation among nations and peoples, while addressing shared challenges and threats. These efforts are grounded in common human values, reflected in the commitments underpinning the United Nations Charter, signed on June 26, 1945, as well as subsequent international agreements, treaties, covenants, declarations, and resolutions.
His Excellency also highlighted a number of humanitarian initiatives implemented in collaboration with international organizations.
He further noted that the World Economic Forum in Davos had, for the first time in its history, hosted a dialogue session examining the role of religions in addressing a range of international issues. He emphasized that this milestone reflects a growing recognition of the importance of ensuring that religious diplomacy has a meaningful and active role on the international stage.