Saudi Arabia hosts virtual global interfaith forum gathering Muslim, Jewish, Christian leaders
Saudi Arabia directed a virtual global forum that starts on Tuesday, with the participation of Muslim clerics, Jewish rabbis, Christian priests, and other religious personalities. In fact, the Kingdom hosts the online forum as part of its presidency this year of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations.
Furthermore, Faisal bin Muaammar, who presides the Saudi-funded International Dialogue Center organizing the five-day forum, informed The Associated Press that the purpose of the event is to enhance relationships among different faiths.
He declared: We are talking about a relationship between religions, between Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus. The dialogue has no political agenda at all, or a political direction in terms of political conversations or negotiations. He also said that interfaith forums like this can help build bridges between people and countries.
Faisal bin Muaammar added: If it is used for the right reasons, the input of religious leaders or religious parties is excellent for any peace process in the world.
It was expected that this event had held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. But, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the forum is being held virtually like other high-profile G-20 events hosted by Saudi Arabia. Among the speakers at Tuesday’s opening session; the Saudi religious affairs minister, the secretary general of the Saudi-based Muslim World League, the grand mufti of Egypt, archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and ecumenical patriarch, the president of the Conference of European Rabbis, and UN representatives.
