Arab League chief warns of rising religious intolerance in Cairo forum address
Aboul Gheit said that Islamophobia is a dangerous and growing issue that undermines the values of coexistence and mutual respect, the Kuwait News Agency reported.
He said that its root causes lie in incitement, a lack of understanding of Islamic values, and the false association of Islam with terrorism.
The Arab League chief also said that biased media coverage, which amplifies errors and promotes negative stereotypes, fuels extremist discourse and divides communities.
Aboul Gheit highlighted the role of traditional and digital media in fostering tolerance and diversity, and called for a comprehensive response involving governments, international organizations, and civil society, the KUNA added.
He highlighted the Arab League's earlier resolutions condemning religious intolerance.
The conference in Cairo brought together representatives from the Arab League; Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; Al-Azhar; Christian institutions; and numerous Arab states to discuss strategies for promoting dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence.
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Arab League chief warns of rising religious intolerance in Cairo forum address
LONDON: Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, called for wider efforts to combat Islamophobia during a speech at the International Conference on Combating Hatred against Islam in Cairo on Tuesday. Aboul Gheit said that Islamophobia is a dangerous and growing issue that undermines the values of coexistence and mutual respect, the Kuwait News Agency reported. He said that its root causes lie in incitement, a lack of understanding of Islamic values, and the false association of Islam with terrorism. The Arab League chief also said that biased media coverage, which amplifies errors and promotes negative stereotypes, fuels extremist discourse and divides communities. Aboul Gheit highlighted the role of traditional and digital media in fostering tolerance and diversity, and called for a comprehensive response involving governments, international organizations, and civil society, the KUNA added. He highlighted the Arab League's earlier resolutions condemning religious intolerance. The conference in Cairo brought together representatives from the Arab League; Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; Al-Azhar; Christian institutions; and numerous Arab states to discuss strategies for promoting dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence.
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The Sudan-Egypt-Libya border ‘triangle of fire'
On a scorching morning in early June, the border triangle where Sudan, Egypt and Libya meet appeared calm as usual. Yet, beneath that stillness, the embers of a hidden conflict were about to ignite. On June 6, a serious clash occurred when a unit from the Subul Al-Salam Battalion, which is affiliated with the forces led by Khalifa Haftar, advanced 3 km into Sudanese territory near Jabal Al-Uwaynat. The Libyan force encountered Sudanese elements from the joint forces, backed by the Sudanese army. Soon after, a video surfaced showing a Rapid Support Forces commander ordering his men to retreat from Egyptian territory, affirming: 'This is not our land.' This was no isolated incident — it was a clear signal of the increasingly entangled front lines between Sudan, Egypt and Libya, and of the Sudanese civil war spilling into a broader regional arena. The border triangle — also adjacent to northern Chad — is one of the region's most geopolitically sensitive areas. 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The Egyptian president reiterated that 'Libya's stability is an integral part of Egypt's national security.' Though the official statement focused on Libya, analysts believe the Sudanese file was central in the closed-door talks. This remote desert expanse is a porous corridor for smuggling networks and transnational armed groups. Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy The same day, Al-Burhan made an unannounced arrival in Cairo from Spain. He held an urgent meeting with El-Sisi in El-Alamein, where they discussed military developments in the triangle. El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's support for Sudan's unity and expressed readiness to assist the Sudanese people. Sudanese sources said the meeting focused primarily on the 'border triangle crisis' and ways for Cairo and Khartoum to coordinate. The simultaneous presence of Haftar and Al-Burhan in Egypt likely was not coincidental. Diplomatic sources suggest Cairo attempted to arrange a backchannel meeting to ease tensions. 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Meanwhile, the UK has reestablished full diplomatic ties with Damascus and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May met his Syrian counterpart in Antalya, Turkiye. These moves reflect a broader recalibration in regional politics. Rather than isolating Syria indefinitely, Arab states are now betting that constructive engagement may offer a more effective route to stability. But this raises a crucial question: Will normalization catalyze real reform or simply entrench the status quo under a new name? There are reasons for cautious optimism. The new Syrian government, backed by a coalition of opposition groups and civil society figures, has laid out a transitional roadmap that includes constitutional reform, the decentralization of power and the phased return of refugees in cooperation with UN agencies. 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