In partnership with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence Trends Research and Advisory and the University Platform for the Study of Islam

The Fourth International Conference of "PLURIEL", shall be convened by Trends Research and Advisory in cooperation with the University Platform for the Study of Islam. The conference shall be held in partnership with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and will coincide with the fifth anniversary of the "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Coexistence", and the International Day of Human Fraternity. The conference shall kick start next Sunday, February 4, 2024, under the central theme "Islam and Human Fraternity: The Impact and Prospects of the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Coexistence", and will continue until February 7, in the Grand Conference Hall at the headquarters of Trends Research and Advisory in Abu Dhabi.

The conference will be opened by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and will be addressed in the main session by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church.

The conference shall be attended by more than 57 speakers and chairpersons from 40 universities and research institutions representing four continents. Specialists in the fields of scientific and academic research and religious thought, shall hold 12 sessions and deliver 5 insightful lectures to enrich the discussion. The conference is an important opportunity to examine the impact of the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb five years ago, on coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the world, as well as its future prospects.

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of Trends Research and Advisory, said that the conference is a true reflection of the Trends’ strategy and orientation of activating its global partnerships. It confirms the universality of the Center's mission. Indeed, Trends has become one of the most reputable think tanks, which analyzes political Islam currents, and support programs of tolerance and coexistence regionally and globally.

He added that the conference shall explore the impact of the Document on Human Fraternity on its fifth anniversary, and analyse the transformations necessary to promote global human fraternity. The discussions will highlight three main axes, the first is the socio-legal axis, where the issue of human citizenship in multicultural and multireligious societies will be examined, with a special focus on the legal protection of religious minorities.

Dr. Al-Ali indicated that the second axis is geopolitical and will examine the role of religion and ideology in current conflicts. The discussion shall cover possible modalities for harnessing religious actors in promoting common goals, such as sustainable development, human rights and peace. The third axis will explore religious and theological thinking, which is motivated by the Document on Human Fraternity, and how the concept of fraternity can be developed to include all humanity.

Dr. Al-Ali explained that the conference represents an opportunity for dialogue and intellectual exchange between various actors in the field of promoting human fraternity, and expressed his hopes that it will consolidate the values of peace, tolerance and coexistence all over the world.