Dr. Bahaa Helmy Writes: Egypt's Messages to the World

The scene of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Pope Tawadros inaugurating the mosque and the cathedral in the New Administrative Capital on 6 January 2019, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and with the participation of a number of presidents, officials, ministers and national public figures and representatives of many foreign countries and bodies, is not only a message of peace and love to the world; it is a new declaration of Egypt's charter for entrenching human values and national unity in the land of peace, and the beginning of sending messages of peace to people all over the world, so that Egypt once again becomes, as it was in ancient times, a center of civilization and culture. The President said that the inauguration of the mosque and the cathedral, the largest in the entire Middle East, embodies an important moment in Egyptian history, and that no one will be allowed to harm the tree of love that has been planted and needs to be preserved until it bears its fruits of tolerance and brotherhood among people, from Egypt to the whole world. These are refined and civilized messages in keeping with human values and the bonds of coexistence, and a message of planting roses instead of excess, fanaticism, extremism and terrorism, which is based on the thinking and approach of cutting off heads and killing people and humanity. They are messages affirming the State's determination to entrench the principle of citizenship, and affirming faith in the message of national unity and the cohesion of the Egyptian people, so that it is immune to any attempts at incitement or playing on the strings of sectarian strife, or to any attempts to infiltrate society. Egypt's messages to the world on this occasion also point to its commitment to human rights, equality and non-discrimination and to developing cohesion within the national community to achieve common interests and build the future for coming generations, and declare that Egypt is an eternal homeland for Egyptians, the cradle of religion and the banner of glory of the revealed religions, as stated in the preamble of the Constitution. If this inauguration fulfills a promise of the political leadership, it is also a commitment to protecting the homeland from everything that threatens it or threatens our national unity, as well as a commitment to the provisions of the Constitution, which vest sovereignty in the people, who must safeguard their national unity, based on equality, justice and equal opportunities among all citizens; and a commitment that the mission of education be to entrench civilizational and spiritual values and establish the concepts of citizenship and tolerance. They are bright and strong messages, at home and abroad, announcing Egypt's role and approach in confronting discrimination and incitement to hatred and working to provide a safe life for every human being: that freedom of belief is absolute, and that the freedom to practice religious rites and to build places of worship for followers of religions is a right guaranteed by the Constitution and the law in Egypt. They also announce a commitment to applying the rule of law and to standing together against the people of evil, whether holders of extremist thought and the ideology of violence or terrorists and the people of darkness, and not allowing them to stir up strife or practice the ways of ignorance against their partners in the nation, such as forcing some Egyptians to leave their place of residence, forcibly displacing some of them, or stripping some women in the villages of Minya Governorate because of events and rumors shrouded in darkness, ignorance and poverty. Egypt's messages to the world are messages announcing Egypt's policy and approach of peace at home and internationally, and they carry within them light and good for the future, as long as we preserve our cohesion, unity and solidarity and reject all inhuman ideas and actions, whatever sacrifices it costs us.