Rome: Shaikh Al Mahfoudh bin Bayyah, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, presented a keynote address at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference hosted at the Italian Parliament. His participation underscored the UAE's commitment to fostering global dialogue on religious freedom and minority rights.
According to Emirates News Agency, Shaikh Al Mahfoudh spoke during a session titled 'Lessons from the Marrakesh Declaration (2016): Supporting the Rights of Religious Minorities.' This session was organized in collaboration with global parliaments, Religions for Peace, the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.
Shaikh Al Mahfoudh emphasized the Marrakesh Declaration's historical significance, highlighting its impact on establishing full citizenship and religious pluralism in modern nation-states. The Declaration, developed in partnership with Morocco's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, marked a turning point in state-minority relations, rooted in Islamic legal texts and inspired by the Prophet Muhammad's constitutional legacy.
He noted that the Marrakesh Declaration revives the Covenant of Medina, the foundational document of the first Islamic state, establishing a framework for protecting religious minorities in Muslim societies. Shaikh Al Mahfoudh referenced King Mohammed VI's message from the original Marrakesh conference, which stated that religion should not justify infringing upon religious minorities' rights.
Shaikh Al Mahfoudh also quoted Shaikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, who emphasized a civilizational vision rooted in Islamic objectives. The Marrakesh Declaration's credibility stems from its high-level institutional cooperation between religious authorities and moderate governments, garnering attention from international organizations and human rights institutions.
He explained the Declaration emerged at a critical moment when extremist groups distorted the Islamic world's image. It offered a civil and ethical response reflecting Islamic values of tolerance and coexistence. Shaikh Al Mahfoudh called for shifting from declaration to implementation, urging cooperation between parliaments, religious leaders, and civil society to translate these values into practical legislation and social practice.
The session, moderated by Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, featured notable participants including Irene Yusiana Roba Putri from Indonesia, Najat Mehdi Omar from the Ethiopian Interfaith Forum, and Dr. Katherine Marshall from the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs.
The Marrakesh Declaration, a UAE-Moroccan initiative, represents cooperative approaches grounded in authentic Islamic values to strengthen civil peace in diverse societies. The Forum has promoted this vision on international platforms, convening meetings that unite policymakers and global religious leaders.