Religious leaders, in the current historical phase, have a key role in
spreading in all Arab countries, the principle of citizenship, and
reject false interpretations of Holy Books and religious teachings used
by extremist and terrorist organizations as an ideological tool of their
power projects.
This is how Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi
expressed his view on the need to "renew religious discourse" in the
Middle East, as an antidote to sectarian conflicts that disrupt large
areas of the Middle East.
On Thursday, March 2 he held talks with
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai, and Chaldean Patriarch, Louis
Raphael I Sako, who are in Cairo to attend the Conference on "Freedom,
citizenship, diversity and integration" conference organized at the
Sunni University of al Azhar in Cairo and the Council of Muslim scholars
(based in Abu Dhabi).
During the talks with the two Eastern Catholic Patriarchs, President al
Sisi, referring to the situation in Egypt, said he does not identify
Egyptian Muslims and Christians as members of a religious "majority" and
"minority", underlining the need for all members of the Egyptian nation
to be treated without discrimination, in respect of full equality
founded on the principle of citizenship.