On Monday, December 9, 2024, the Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding & Partnership (CCMUP) organized a seminar on “Religion and Extremism” at All Saints’ Cathedral in Zamalek. The session was led by Dr. Ibrahim Negm, Senior Advisor to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, and President of the Salam Centre for Extremism Studies.
The seminar represents the launch of the Centre’s Forum for Religion, Peace & Global Affairs, which aims to bring together a diverse group of professionals from Egypt & the international community to engage in constructive discussions on global challenges that intersect with religion and faith.
During the seminar, Dr. Negm explored the roots of extremism, citing the Khawarij movement as the first group to deviate from the correct understanding of religion. He warned of the dangers posed by the literal interpretation of religious texts, which often leads to extremism and violence.
Dr. Negm emphasized the importance of consulting religious authorities such as Al-Azhar Al-Shareef and Dar Al-Ifta to ensure accurate interpretations of religious texts, cautioning that misguided interpretations could lead to extremism. He called for enhanced collaboration between diplomatic bodies, Dar Al-Ifta, and Al-Azhar Al-Shareef to combat extremism and terrorism effectively.
The seminar was attended by a diverse group of diplomats and representatives from various international institutions and countries, including Australia, Sweden, the European Union Delegation in Egypt, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Bulgaria, India, Singapore, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Representing the Centre were: Bishop Dr. Mouneer Anis (Centre Director), Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson (Director of Academic Studies), Mr. Kareem Gerges (Director of International Partnerships & Communications), and Dcn. Samir Dawod (Research Fellow).
It is worth noting that the Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding & Partnership (CCMUP) was established in June 2022 as part of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt. The Centre aims to serve Egyptian society by promoting peace, understanding, and cooperation between different religious communities through academic programs, community initiatives, and projects focused on peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
