Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh Participates in the 10th International Conference ‘Knights of the Message: Leaders of the Moral Journey’
AMMAN - Under the patronage of Former Prime
Minister of Egypt, HE Dr. Essam Sharaf, HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and
chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global Digital (TAG.GD), took part in the 10th International Conference “Knights of the Message: Leaders of Moral Journey” which
launched in Amman, Jordan, with the participation of many elite political,
intellectual, and media representatives.
During the Conference, President of the
International Knights of Peace, Dr. Amin Abu Hijleh, stressed that peace is not
just a slogan to be raised; rather, it is a culture and a shared
responsibility, pointing out that peace starts within the individual and
extends to family, community and then the country.
HE Dr. Sharaf stated that the world today
needs peace more than ever, especially amid increasing conflicts and
polarization, a shrinking space of dialogue, and successive economic, political
and social crises.
He further noted that the true peace begins
with people and their culture; not imposed from outside. He went on to
highlight that peace encompasses both peace among nations and peace within
societies, emphasizing that building people is the key to building peace.
Dr. Sharaf also stressed that peace-building
is not the responsibility of governments alone, but a shared responsibility of
families, civil society, and every individual, considering that the 'Knights of
Peace' initiative effectively contributes to transforming peace from a mere
concept into a culture and practice.
He pointed out that development and peace are two sides of the same coin.
Peace cannot be achieved in a society dominated by fear and conflict, nor can
peace be sustained in an environment characterized by poverty, marginalization,
and a lack of opportunities. He reaffirmed that peace-building begins with
building people.
Moreover, Dr. Sharaf praised Jordan as a
country with a long history for civilization, culture, dialogue, and religions
coexistence, emphasizing that difference does not mean conflict, diversity does
not mean division, and peace does not mean abandoning rights, but rather
searching for a way to secure them.
For his part, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh welcomed the
patron of the event, former Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr. Essam Sharaf, and
commended the insights he shared in his speech on the concept of peace.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated that Mr. Sharaf’s
speech “deserves to be taught in schools,” calling for the addition of the word
“just” to the concept of peace. He emphasized that what is pursued and sought
is not peace of submission, occupation, or injustice, but rather a “just
peace.”
In another part of his speech, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh
addressed the role of women, emphasizing that they are mothers, sisters,
daughters, wives, and partners in both life and work, noting that women “are
everything.”
He also expressed pride in his Arab identity,
noting that he was born in Palestine, that Jordan is his homeland, that his
mother was Syrian, and that his father was Egyptian. He said that this
background strengthens his pride in being Arab, affirming his belief that Arabs
constitute “one nation and one people.”
Furthermore, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh also criticized
certain perspectives that focus solely on supporting and empowering women,
questioning the need for “women’s empowerment.” He argued that, in reality, it
is women and particularly mothers who bear the primary responsibility for
empowering men in the first place.
He added that women do not need empowerment any
more than men do, arguing that men may, in fact, be in greater need of
empowerment. He stressed that both men and women are partners in the pursuit of
peace, and that discussions of “women peacebuilders” should not overlook the
role of men. He further noted that women represent “the better half” of
humanity, having given birth to both men and women.
He also highlighted the strong presence of
women in leadership positions within Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global Digital
(TAG.GD), noting that his deputy is a woman from the Arab Republic of Egypt. He
concluded by emphasizing that men, too, must have a role in shaping the future.
For her part, Assistant Speaker of the
Jordanian House of Representatives, Ms. Hala Al-Jarrah, affirmed that holding
the conference underscores the importance of the role of inspiring leaders in
building peace, noting that the world today, more than ever, needs to
strengthen efforts of peacebuilding.
Ms. Al-Jarrah also highlighted His Majesty King
Abdullah II’s efforts in promoting peace, referring to the views and stances he
expressed in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.