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We are united in acknowledging that there should be fraternal goodwill among our religious

communities that both respect the differences of our traditions and also acknowledge our common

heritages. In our meeting, we received a profound and far-reaching call for the Muslim and Christian

communities of the region to develop a contract of mutual care in which each community identifiesthe religious grounds for respecting and protecting the well-being of the other community as a

solemn obligation that is linked with the practice of faith. Such agreements need to be developed in

various ways among all three Abrahamic religious communities: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

We pledge ourselves to help support our respective religious communities to develop fraternal

agreements that make clear their religious duties to honor and stand in solidarity with one another.

Furthermore, on the most basic level, we also recognize that each of our respective traditions

acknowledges the inviolable God-given dignity of all people, including those who are not part of the

Abrahamic family of religions. We pledge ourselves to work together to promote and protect the

fundamental dignity of all, including their related rights and duties. We are committed to advancing

respect for religious differences and the protection of freedom of religion across our region. We are

also committed in a most special way to stand together in solidarity with all vulnerable religious

communities and to advocate for their protection.

With regard to these commitments, we note with appreciation the United Nations Human Rights

Council Resolution 16/18 adopted in April of this year. This resolution helpfully calls on all states to

take action to foster an environment of religious tolerance, peace and respect. It urges them to

address and combat advocacy of religious hatred against individuals. It affirms all of the rights

related to religious freedom. It recognizes that the incitement to imminent violence based on religion

or belief should be criminalized. And, it calls upon states to foster religious freedom and pluralism

by promoting the ability of members of all religious communities to manifest their religion, and

contribute openly and on an equal footing in society. This far-reaching resolution advanced by the

Organization of Islamic Cooperation and supported by its member states deserves the backing of all

states. We urge the adoption of a new resolution based on it in the United Nations General Assembly

and also urge all governments to implement it. We also recognize that by working together religious

communities can help to create the needed positive environment of religious tolerance, peace andrespect, and we commit to doing so.

We are united in our conviction that all citizens have basic rights and freedoms and deserve

protection. We also believe that diverse communities must be respected and protected. We will lead

our religious believers in dialogues aimed at building understanding and good will among our

respective communities. We will work together to resist any manipulation of religion for non-

religious purposes. We will also work to educate our believers about their solemn responsibility to

stand in solidarity with all the vulnerable religious communities. In addition to our moral obligation

to stand in solidarity with each other, there is also the practical imperative to do so, for every

community is a majority in one place and a minority in another. We must all stand together for the

protection of the rights of each community, and we are committed to doing so together.

Across our region there are different ways to relate religion to the state, and these differences should

be respected. In every case, however, we are united in the conviction that religious communities

should actively help to ensure that governments fulfill their principal mandate of honoring and

protecting the fundamental dignity, safety and well-being of all of their citizens, including their

related religious and other rights. As religious leaders, we call on all religious believers to become a

united moral force to help ensure that governments honor the full rights, protect and serve all of their

citizens without exceptions. This must be especially true in Jerusalem, a city holy to the three

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Abrahamic religions. We call on all governments and international institutions to achieve a just peace

in Jerusalem, and the Holy Land. We pledge our support.

We believe that all human institutionsgovernments, businesses, and civil society organizationshave a role in advancing human flourishing across the MENA region. Each has its distinct identity

and mandate. Each must be encouraged to serve the common good. All must be measured by how

well they play their part in building up the common good and advancing the human dignity of every

person including their related rights and duties. We are convinced that there must be principled

partnerships among all stakeholders in the MENA region for the common good. We reaffirm the

important role of our youth and women, who must be included in the great task of advancing the

region. We recognize that they must take their due places in multi-religious dialogues and we

commit to facilitating their participation. We acknowledge with appreciation the United Nations

Alliance of Civilizations framework for action in the MENA region, in particular it regional strategy.

We are pleased to cooperate in preparing and implementing joint actions. We also call for expanded

opportunities for principled partnerships for all stakeholders, as we pledge ourselves as theReligions

for Peace MENA Council to serve as a partner with all stakeholders in efforts to advance the

common good.

Finally, religion, for us, can never simply be reduced to a theme, a topic or a social sector. It is a

total way of life concerned with every dimension of human existence. We believe our religious

communities will make positive contributions to all dimensions of personal and social existence

essential for the flourishing of our MENA region. Respectful of our religious differences, we each

believe that it is faith in God that calls us to cooperate with each other and all men and women of

good will to build Peace.