Meet the UAE multi-faith committee formed to promote peace

Higher Committee of Human Fraternity is charged with promoting the Human Fraternity Document launched in February

Pope Francis (L) and Egypt's Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb greet each other as they exchange documents during the Human Fraternity Meeting at the Founders Memorial in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2019. Pope Francis rejected "hatred and violence" in the name of God, on the first visit by the head of the Catholic church to the Muslim-majority Arabian Peninsula. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO
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Cardinal Elect Miguel Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See: Born in Seville, Spain, Mr Guixot was ordained as a priest in 1980 before going on to work as a missionary in Egypt and Sudan for 20 years. He later worked as an Islamic professor in Cairo, and led interreligious discussions throughout East Africa. He was appointed the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue by Pope Francis in May 2019.

Picture taken on March 19, 2016, shows the newly ordinated bishop Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot (C) leaving at the end of the ordination mass at St Peter's basilica in Vatican. - Pope Francis named on May 25, 2019 Guixot as president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Roman Curia, replacing the last year died French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. (Photo by VINCENZO PINTO / AFP)
Miguel Guixot

Rabbi M Bruce Lustig, a Senior Rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation: Noted as a social activist, Mr Lustig has worked with the Washington Hebrew Congregation, in Washington DC, for more than 25 years. The community serves as a voice for the values of the Jewish faith. Mr Lustig holds a doctorate in divinity and organised America's first Abrahamic Summit, bringing together Christians, Jews and Muslims following the attacks of 9/11.

Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi At Washington Hebrew Congregation. Courtesy Washington Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi M Bruce Lustig

Monsignor Yoannis Gaid, Personal Secretary of Pope Francis: Born in Cairo, Egypt, Monsignor Gaid grew up with seven siblings. He was ordained at the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria and was later sent to Rome where he earned a doctorate in the canon law of the Eastern Churches. In 2014, Pope Francis chose him as his second personal secretary.

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - SEPTEMBER 15:  •	Monsignor Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, Personal Secretary Of The Holy Father  (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Monsignor Yoannis Gaid

Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi: Born in the UAE capital and educated in the United States, Mr Al Mubarak is a well-known Emirati businessman and member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. He is also chairman of TwoFour54 and of Louvre Abu Dhabi and Aldar Academies, the largest modern education provider in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - April 08, 2019: HE Mohamed Khalifa al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism makes his opening remarks at the Culture Summit 2019. Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Mohamed Al Mubarak

Dr Sultan Al Rumaithi, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders: As the former executive director of the Executive Council in Ajman, Dr Sultan Al Rumaithi helped to formulate and implement a number of policies aimed at improving efficiency at numerous UAE government offices. He holds a PhD in business administration from the United Arab Emirates University.

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., January 31, 2019.  A round table with the chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders Sultan Al Remeithi about the fraternity meeting.
Victor Besa / The National
Section:  NA
Reporter:  Haneen Dajani
Sultan Al Rumaithi

Professor Mohamed Mahrasawi, President of Al-Azhar University: Professor Mahrasawi is the acting President of the Al-Azhar University in Egypt. In 1985, he graduated from the same university with a Masters and PhD in Arabic languages. He has played a crucial role in strengthening the Arabic language curriculum at Al Azhar University and King Saud University in Saudi Arabia.

Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam, Advisor to the Grand Imam: Serving as a judge in the State Council in Egypt, Mohamed Abdel Salam has helped draft laws aimed at combatting hatred and violence in the name of religion. He has also held the position of General Supervisor of the Youth Peacemakers Forum, an organisation which brings young people together to discuss ways of achieving sustainable world peace.

Yasser Al Muhairi, an Emirati writer: Yasser Al Muhairi is considered one of the strongest voices among Arab youth. A prominent Emirati author and columnist, he has helped create a number of social impact programmes, including schemes to encourage young talent to advance their writing skills.