Middle East Council of Churches to Host Regional Conference on Hate Speech in Cairo

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) will convene a regional conference in Cairo from October 4 to 6, 2026, in partnership with the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS) and with support from the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Canada, and the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID).

The gathering, themed "Countering Hate Speech: Promoting Human Dignity and Living Together," will bring together researchers, religious leaders, experts and specialists from a range of fields to examine the causes, forms and consequences of hate speech and to explore practical measures for advancing human dignity, social cohesion and coexistence.

The program opens on Sunday, October 4, with a reception and networking session, including an official opening and introduction to the conference. Scheduled speakers include Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt and head of CEOSS, and Dr. Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches. Dr. Laure Abi Khalil is expected to present the conference's overall framework, objectives, methodology and anticipated outcomes, followed by a group photograph and statements to media.

Three Days of Discussion

Over the course of the three-day event, speakers and researchers will address hate speech from religious, social, legal, educational and media perspectives. Dedicated sessions will examine the role of digital platforms and artificial intelligence in confronting and reducing hate speech, alongside discussions of public policies and regional initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion.

The conference is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, October 6, with a presentation summarizing the discussions and recommendations that emerge from the sessions.