The Presidency
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi participated in a panel discussion titled “Religious Discourse and Its Impact on Values in Society”, held on the fourth day of the Egypt Forum 2026 Forum. The session was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly and featured contributions from Minister of Religious Endowments (Awqaf) Dr. Usama Al-Azhari, Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Dayem, and the bishop of the Diocese of Helwan, El Masara, and 15 May City, Bishop Mikhail.
The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, stated that Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Dayem reviewed Al-Azhar’s efforts in enhancing academic education and training, advancing community outreach and guidance, monitoring and combating extremism through awareness campaigns promoting the true teachings of Islam, disseminating Islamic heritage, and strengthening international partnerships with institutes and educational institutions to further develop educational programs.
Bishop Mikhail also reviewed the Church’s role in character building and achieving social peace through four key areas; the spiritual and psychological development of new generations; church education and youth activities; developmental partnerships; and citizenship, national stability, protecting the social fabric, and preserving a homeland that embraces all its citizens.
The Minister of Religious Endowments discussed the measures taken by the Ministry to solidify a system of values, ethics, and positive behaviors, and to launch a religious discourse based on competence and merit. He noted that contact had been established with several ministries and institutions in Egypt to monitor the decline in values and behavior among their employees and pointed out that 41 issues had been identified. This prompted the Ministry to announce the “Correct Your Misconceptions” initiative to promote moral values. Dr. Al-Azhari explained that the AI center at the Ministry of Religious Endowments, which will be inaugurated next week, has produced several films about the wonders of God’s creation using five methods suitable for all segments of society, as part of the effort to promote positive behaviors in society. The Minister also announced the launch of the second season of the “State of Recitation” program in November 2026.
President El-Sisi made an intervention during which he indicated that all activities carried out by the government must be offered to the people. The President stressed that despite the general role of educational awareness in building conscience, this is a path parallel to the legal path based on the rule of law, reiterating that states regulate life by laws.
In connection with the issue of extremism, whether that involves terrorism, on one hand, or reaches the level of atheism, on the other hand, it is necessary to carry out a balanced religious foundation, especially among children, stressing that this approach will lead to the elimination of extremism, and pointing out that freedom of belief is guaranteed. The President noted his conviction that the role ends with the good and kind call, whether it is accepted or not.
