Cairo, Egypt – May 21, 2025
The Center for Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership (CCMUP) partnered with the Swedish Embassy in Cairo to co-organize a high-level interfaith dinner, bringing together ambassadors, religious scholars, and community leaders to discuss pressing challenges in interfaith relations. Hosted at the residence of H.E. Mr. Håkan Emsgård, Ambassador of Sweden to Egypt, the event provided a platform for dialogue on extremism, integration, and intolerance.
The interfaith gathering underscored the strong and ongoing collaboration between CCMUP and the Swedish Embassy in Cairo. Key figures in attendance included H.E. Mr. Håkan Emsgård, Swedish Ambassador to Egypt; Mme. Mahyad Tavakoli, Swedish Deputy Head of Mission; Archbishop-Emeritus Dr. Mouneer Anis, CCMUP Director-General; Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson, CCMUP Director of Academic Studies; H.E. Dr. Lutfi Rauf, Ambassador of Indonesia; H.E. Mr. Gareth Bayles, Ambassador of the UK; H.E. Mr. Eric Chevallier, Ambassador of France; H.E. Mr. Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada; H.E. Mr. Francois Cornet D’Elzius, Ambassador of Belgium; H.E. Mr. Peter Mollema, Ambassador of the Netherlands; Prof. Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr, an expert on women in relation to Islam from Cairo University; Dr. Ibrahim Negm, Deputy Grand Mufti of Egypt; Dr. Saad el Din el Hilaly, Islamic scholar and TV host; Bishop (Anba) Thomas, a senior leader in the Coptic Orthodox Church and head of the Anafora monastery; Mr. Felix Halaa, Head of Cultural Affairs at the German Embassy; and Mr. Kareem Gerges, CCMUP Director of International Partnerships & Communications.
Discussions during the evening covered Sweden’s historical approach to interfaith relations and the pivotal role of knowledge and education in combating ignorance, which is often the root cause of extremism and hate. Bishop Mouneer Anis emphasized the role of CCMUP in fostering interfaith dialogue, countering extremism, and promoting understanding among different religious communities. The conversation also touched on the role of religion in addressing contemporary global challenges, particularly in the context of integration, immigration, and religious extremism.
The interfaith dinner reflected a shared commitment to building bridges between faith communities and leveraging religion as a force for peace and coexistence. By facilitating such high-level discussions, CCMUP and the Swedish Embassy continue to play a crucial role in advancing interfaith understanding and tackling religious challenges in an ever-changing global landscape.
