**Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki**
“Countering hate speech begins with reshaping public awareness and reaffirming the worth of every person.”
“We need an alternative discourse grounded in dialogue, respect, compassion, and acceptance of diversity.”
**Prof. Michel Abs**
“Egypt was chosen to host the conference because of its standing as a place of encounter and unity.”
“Alongside armed conflicts, the region is facing a war of narratives and a war of words.”
Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of Egypt’s Protestant Community and President of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), took part on Sunday in the regional conference “Countering Hate Speech to Promote Human Dignity and Living Together.” CEOSS organized the conference in cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) at its headquarters in Cairo. It brought together religious leaders, public intellectuals, and researchers from Egypt and several other Arab countries.
Attendees included Prof. Salama Dawoud, former President of Al-Azhar University, representing His Eminence Grand Imam Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, and Dr. Ibrahim Negm, Senior Advisor to Egypt’s Grand Mufti and Secretary General of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, representing the Grand Mufti. Dr. Gerges Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the MECC, and the Very Rev. Dr. Makary Tadros, Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Coptic Orthodox Seminary, represented His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. Bishop Thomas Adly, Coptic Catholic Bishop of Giza, Fayoum, and Beni Suef and a member of the MECC Executive Committee, represented His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac.
Also in attendance were Helmy El-Namnam, former Minister of Culture, Rev. Amir Tharwat, President of the Evangelical Synod of the Nile, and Rev. Refaat Fikry, Associate Secretary General of the MECC. They were joined by clergy, religious scholars, and nuns, as well as members of Egypt’s House of Representatives, Egyptian thought leaders, and researchers and specialists from across the Arab region working on dialogue, social cohesion, and countering hate speech.
In his opening remarks, Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki welcomed the participants and said the conference reflected the commitment of CEOSS and the MECC to working together and sharing expertise to advance dialogue, strengthen social cohesion, build bridges, and promote respect for diversity.
He noted that tensions, conflicts, and divisions around the world affect relationships between people, social stability, and opportunities for development and dialogue. He said that addressing hate speech begins with understanding its nature and distinguishing it from differences of opinion. He emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental right and that incitement against others, contempt, and exclusion fall outside its scope.
Prof. Michel Abs, Secretary General of the MECC, said the conference was part of efforts to confront demonization and hate speech. He explained that Egypt was chosen as the host because of its standing as a place of encounter and social unity. He added that cooperation with CEOSS builds on the two organizations’ shared work on dialogue, social cohesion, and human dignity.
Prof. Abs described the region as facing “a war of narratives and a war of words” alongside armed conflicts. He noted that even a single word posted on social media or written on a wall can contribute to serious incidents. He also warned that some religious, media, and political platforms can become channels for demonization and hate speech.
He called for a comprehensive national plan to counter hatred and demonization. His proposals included monitoring hate speech, teaching respect for diversity, dialogue, and critical thinking, strengthening media and digital literacy, establishing an independent national observatory on hate speech, developing a media code of ethics, and reviewing religious discourse. He also called for a legal framework that distinguishes freedom of expression from direct incitement to violence or discrimination, with universities, research centers, and civil society involved in the effort.
Samira Louka, Head of the Dialogue Sector at CEOSS and a member of Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights, welcomed the guests and participants. She emphasized that the regional conference provided a space to exchange experiences on countering hate speech and promoting human dignity and social cohesion. She also highlighted how religious institutions, community organizations, intellectuals, and the media can work together to address rhetoric that threatens social peace.
Prof. Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the MECC’s Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity Rehabilitation Program, said the conference brought together researchers and thinkers with experience across the Arab region. It gave them a forum to discuss the responsibilities of the state, institutions, and society in countering hate speech and to examine its relationship to violent extremism.
