Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki Inaugurates the Arab Dialogue Forum in Abu Dhabi as Part of His UAE Tour

Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt and Head of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, inaugurated the Arab forum titled “Towards Effective Management of Pluralism and Diversity in Arab Societies,” organized by the Forum for Intercultural Dialogue and hosted in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, over two days. The event aims to promote dialogue and solidify the values of pluralism in Arab societies.

The forum was attended by a distinguished group of intellectuals, media figures, and thought leaders from various Arab countries. Discussions focused on the importance of building bridges of dialogue and fostering values of coexistence.

In his opening speech, Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki emphasized the necessity of fostering a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding, highlighting the pioneering role of the Coptic Evangelical Organization in supporting pluralism and promoting shared living values. He stressed that effective diversity management is a fundamental pillar in building stable and advanced societies, adding:

“This forum reflects our collective commitment to dialogue as a means to enhance pluralism and achieve understanding among various intellectual and cultural groups. At the Coptic Evangelical Organization, we believe that collaborative work is the best approach to addressing the challenges facing our Arab societies and creating an environment that supports mutual respect and openness to others.”

Key Sessions of the Forum

The forum included three main sessions that addressed the management of pluralism and diversity in Arab societies:

1. First Session: “Challenges in Managing Pluralism and Diversity”

   • Speakers:
     • Mr. Helmy El-Namnam, former Minister of Culture of Egypt
     • Dr. Radwan El Sayyed, Dean of Graduate Studies at Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities
   • Moderator: Media figure Nashaat Al-Dihy, Chairman of Ten TV Channel

2. Second Session: “Managing Diversity and Pluralism: Experiences and Practices”

   • Speakers:
     • Dr. Hanan Youssef, President of the Arab Organization for Dialogue and International Cooperation, who shared Egypt’s experience
     • Mr. Youssef Aghuirkat, Senior Advisor at the Moroccan Advisory Council, who presented the experience of the Mediator Organization in Morocco
     • Dr. Fatima Al-Dahman, Head of the Tolerance and Coexistence Department at Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, who highlighted the UAE’s experience in promoting a culture of tolerance
   • Moderator: Rev. Emil Anwar, Pastor of the Arabic Evangelical Church in Dubai

3. Third Session: “A Vision for Enhancing the Management of Diversity and Pluralism”

   • Featured prominent figures, including:
     • Dr. Mahmoud Muslim, Chairman of the Culture and Media Committee in the Egyptian Senate
     • Dr. Amer Al-Hafi, Professor of Comparative Religion and Academic Advisor at the Royal Institute for Religious Studies in Jordan
     • Dr. Maryam Al-Zaidi, Head of the Philosophy and Ethics Department at Mohamed bin Zayed University
     • Dr. Noha Khoury, Vice President of Dar Al-Kalima University in Palestine

Distinguished Attendees

The forum was attended by key figures from across the Arab world, including:

• Egypt:

  • Mr. Momtaz Bishay, Vice President of the Coptic Evangelical Organization
  • Journalist Akram Al-Qassas, Chairman of the Board of Youm7 Newspaper
  • Journalist Hamdi Rizk
  • Dr. Nevine Mosaad, Professor of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University and a member of the National Council for Human Rights
  • Mr. Hani Labib, Editor-in-Chief of Mobtada news website
  • Mr. Imad Khalil and Mr. Tarek El-Khouly, members of the Egyptian Parliament
  • Mr. Said Abdel Hafez, President of the Development and Dialogue Forum for Human Rights and a member of the National Council for Human Rights
  • Ms. Samira Louka, Senior Head of the Dialogue Sector at the Coptic Evangelical Organization and a member of the National Council for Human Rights
  • Ms. Heba Yousry, Program Director of the Forum for Intercultural Dialogue at the Coptic Evangelical Organization

• Other Arab Countries:

  • Jordan: Ms. Hala Salem, Executive Director of the Jerusalem Center for Political Studies
  • Palestine: Dr. Walid Shomali, President of the Palestinian Center for Civilizational Studies and Dialogue
  • Lebanon: Ms. Mireille Hamoush, Deputy Director and Project Manager at the Forum for Dialogue, Culture, and Development
  • Morocco: Dr. Nouh Al-Harmouzi, President of the Arab Research Center – Rabat
  • UAE: Dr. Asmaa Kaftaro, General Director of the Kaftaro Foundation for Tolerance, Brotherhood, and Women’s Empowerment

Conclusion

At the end of the forum, Ms. Samira Louka emphasized that this round of the Arab dialogue aims to shed light on challenges related to coexistence, freedom of expression, and respect for sacred values. She stressed the importance of dialogue as an effective tool for fostering pluralism and acceptance of others. She also highlighted the crucial link between freedom of expression and respect for values and sacred beliefs in establishing peace among people.

This forum is part of Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki’s tour in the United Arab Emirates, which includes a series of meetings with intellectual and religious leaders. The tour aims to strengthen cooperation between religious and social institutions in both countries, promote the values of tolerance and pluralism, and foster dialogue among various components of Arab societies in light of current challenges.