Dr. Elias El Halabi, Director of the Christian-Muslim Studies Center at the University of Balamand (UOB), participated in the Network of Centers for Christian-Muslim Relations (NCCMR) Symposium, held in Cairo, Egypt, on 6–7 July 2026.

During the symposium, Dr. El Halabi presented a paper entitled “Christian-Muslim Relations and Peacebuilding,” in which he explored the relationship between interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding in the contemporary world. He examined the role of Christian-Muslim cooperation in promoting peace, justice, and mutual understanding, while highlighting the contributions of the United Nations, the Second Vatican Council, the World Council of Churches, and the Human Fraternity Document to advancing dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

In his presentation, Dr. El Halabi emphasized that peacebuilding is a long-term process that goes beyond the absence of conflict. He stressed that Christians and Muslims share a common responsibility to strengthen dialogue, reject extremism, promote human dignity, and work together to build societies founded on justice, respect, and fraternity. He also discussed the challenges facing Christian-Muslim relations today, including religious fundamentalism, sectarian tensions, the need for peace education, and the importance of strong constitutional states that guarantee equal citizenship for all.

The symposium provided an opportunity for UOB to contribute to international academic dialogue on Christian-Muslim relations and peacebuilding.



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