Saturday 29 March 2025
Cairo, Egypt
The Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding & Partnership (CCMUP) welcomed a distinguished group of professors and students of theology from Lund University, Sweden, along with representatives from the Lutheran Church of Sweden, for a visit aimed at exploring the rich history of Christianity and Islam in Egypt, and to engage in a series of discussions on interfaith relations and the role they play in fostering peace, tolerance, and cooperation among people of different religious and cultural backgrounds.
The Swedish delegation was led by Dr. Jakob Wiren, Professor of Theology of Religions at Lund University and the Swedish Archbishop’s Advisor, who emphasized the importance of dialogue between religious communities, particularly in the context of contemporary global issues such as immigration and international relations.
CCMUP provided a day program for the visitors, where they were immersed in Egypt’s unique historical and cultural interfaith landscape. Bishop Dr. Mouneer Anis, Director of CCMUP, gave a talk about the history and challenges of interfaith relations in Egypt, while Ms. Sarah Allam Shaltout, a journalist and a PhD candidate at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland, delivered a talk on the subject of church constructions in Egypt.
The discussions explored how Egypt’s Christian and Muslim communities have coexisted for centuries, navigating periods of tension as well as moments of unity. The group also learned about the role of interfaith dialogue in addressing contemporary challenges and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson, CCMUP’s Director of Academic Studies and key organizer of the event, joined the discussions, offering his expertise on the academic study of interfaith relations. Dcn. Samir Dawoud, a research fellow at CCMUP, also contributed to the event’s organizing, along with Mr. Kareem Gerges, CCMUP’s Director of International Partnerships & Communications.
In addition to learning about Egypt’s interfaith history, the Swedish delegation also took part in discussions focusing on the challenges of interfaith relations in Sweden, particularly with regard to the country’s experience with immigration and religious diversity. The group shared their thoughts on how Sweden’s growing religious and cultural plurality intersects with global issues, seeking to learn from Egypt’s experiences in interfaith relations. Dr. Wiren expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage with CCMUP, highlighting the vital lessons learned from Egypt’s rich history of interfaith cooperation.
The event exemplified CCMUP’s mission to foster mutual understanding between different faiths and cultures communities within Egypt and internationally, promoting dialogue as a tool for genuine and sustainable peace. The partnership between CCMUP, Lund University and the Church of Sweden will continue to build bridges between the culturally and religiously diverse nations of Egypt and Sweden.
