Father Dr. Rifat Bader, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), spoke during the conference “Countering Hate Speech to Promote Human Dignity and Coexistence” about the need to disarm discourse in today’s world. He stressed that weapons are no longer confined to wars and conventional arms. Words and digital platforms themselves can become tools of harm, exclusion, and hatred.

Father Bader said:

“Disarmament in today’s world is not limited to battlefields and conventional weapons. Words and digital platforms can also become weaponized. A word can kill, a gesture can hurt, and even digital blocking and exclusion can become tools of rejection rather than dialogue. Therefore, as Pope Leo XIV calls for, we need disarmed media, as well as disarmed modern technologies and artificial intelligence, that is, gentle tools that serve affection, dialogue, human connection, and mutual understanding among people.”

And a Commemorative Shield Presented by MECC to His Holiness’ Media Office

From the heart of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia - Cairo, and within the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, conducted a media interview with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, as part of the “Leaders and Positions” program.

At St. Mark’s Cathedral, which is closely connected to the history of the Coptic Church and the collective memory of the Egyptian people, Journalist Maamary raised with His Holiness a many issues of concern to citizens, families, youth, and the Church. She also explored his vision for the future of the Church, its mission in Egypt and the diaspora, and its role in promoting love, peace, and national unity.

She also listened to His Holiness’ views on various issues brought by the new era, foremost among them the impact of social media and digital media on individuals, ways of protecting younger generations from rumors and polarization, and how the Church can preserve its identity and faith while remaining open to the wider world.

“Countering Hate Speech to Promote Human Dignity and Coexistence”

A Report Via “ME Sat” Channel

Conference on “Countering Hate Speech to Promote Human Dignity and Coexistence”

A Report Via "Extra News" Channel

Within the framework of constructive media cooperation and the strong partnership between the media department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and its various media partners, joint media efforts play an important role in following and covering the Conference on Hate Speech. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to highlighting issues of concern to our societies while promoting a culture of dialogue, respect, and acceptance of others.

This partnership has been demonstrated through close cooperation and coordination among media teams across all aspects of the coverage. It includes preparing news stories and press reports, covering the conference’s key sessions and discussions, providing photo and video coverage and documenting its activities, as well as conducting interviews with participants and speakers to highlight their views and perspectives on hate speech and ways to counter it.

This cooperation underscores the fact that the media, through its various institutions and platforms, is an essential partner in disseminating positive messages and strengthening communication among the different components of society, particularly on issues that require collective efforts and the creation of spaces for dialogue and mutual understanding.

As part of his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt to participate in the conference “Countering Hate Speech to Promote Human Dignity and Coexistence,” organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) with its partners, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs participated in the opening ceremony of Al-Nour Ninth Festival for Culture and Creativity, honoring the Thinker Dr. Hussain Shaban, in Cairo. Dr. Shaban is also one of the prominent researchers participating in the Council’s “Countering Hate Speech” conference.

Attending the opening alongside Professor Michel Abs were His Eminence Bishop Georges Chehwan, Maronite Bishop of the Eparchy of Cairo for Egypt and Sudan and Apostolic Visitor to North Africa; Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, MECC Associate Secretary General; Father Dr. Michel Kanbar, University Professor, Writer, and Historian; Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the Dialogue, Human Dignity, and Social Cohesion Program at MECC; and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at MECC, along with a distinguished group of thinkers, researchers, poets, and writers from several Arab countries.

October 3, 2026

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a media interview with His Eminence Bishop Thomas Adly, Bishop of the Coptic Catholic Diocese of Giza, Fayoum, and Beni Suef, and a Member of the MECC Executive Committee, as part of the “Leaders and Positions” program. The interview sheds light on the Coptic Catholic Church and its role in the Middle East, in addition to his vision for the future of the Ecumenical work, the challenges that the Churches are facing, as well as the people of the region.

The interview was conducted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at MECC. The episode explored His Eminence Bishop Thomas Adly’s experience and his journey within the Middle East Council of Churches, his role in Ecumenical work, and the importance of strengthening common Christian witness amid the crises and growing challenges that the region is facing.

An Episode About the MECC Conference: “Countering Hate Speech to Promote Human Dignity and Coexistence,” in Cairo

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian to the MECC Media: A Series of Activities Promoting Culture Across Generations

Amidst the rapid advancement of technology and the accelerating transformations taking place in the education sector, new questions are emerging about the future of education and access to knowledge. Between today’s challenges and the future of students, Haigazian University in Lebanon is preparing many activities aimed at raising awareness of the importance of academic education and the return to books and reading.

In this context, and in an exclusive interview to the Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, spoke about the University’s upcoming activities, their objectives, and details.