As part of the third edition of the International Festival ‘The Soul of Cultures’ held in the historic Moroccan city of Essaouira, Dr Musabeh Saeed Alketbi, Director General of the Fundación for Culture and Religious Tolerance (FCRT) delivered a speech on behalf of H.E. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the FCRT and President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace (GCTP).
At the beginning of his speech, Dr Alketbi expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco and His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain for their great support for this Festival, which promotes interreligious and intercultural dialogue. He also thanked the Kingdom of Morocco, government and people, for hosting this important event.
Dr Alketbi praised the role of the Three Cultures Foundation and its team in organising the festival in cooperation with the Kadiriya Brotherhood of Essaouira (Association Jeunes de l’Art Authentique), stressing that these joint efforts reflect the true spirit of cultural openness and international cooperation.
Regarding the objectives of the festival, Dr. Musabeh stressed that the Soul of Cultures is a unique opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural and religious traditions that unite the three Abrahamic religions, while promoting dialogue and understanding between different cultures. He also emphasised the importance of preserving the shared tangible and intangible heritage, which is a fundamental pillar of peaceful coexistence and human brotherhood.
In light of the conflicts and wars that the world is witnessing today, the Director General of the FCRT pointed to the need for international efforts to promote a culture of tolerance and mutual understanding among peoples, stressing that such efforts are essential to achieve stability and peace among societies.
Dr Musabeh Saeed Alketbi is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Director General of the Fundación for Culture and Religious Tolerance (FCRT) in Madrid, Spain, a non-profit foundation established in 2017, which aims to promote religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue, in addition to spreading and promoting the Arabic language in Spanish and European civil society.
Through its various activities, the Foundation seeks to build bridges of cooperation with religious, educational and cultural institutions, both nationally and internationally, through cooperation agreements aimed at spreading a culture of tolerance and interreligious understanding as well as to promote religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue, organising many cultural and scientific activities such as seminars, conferences, educational courses, and art exhibitions.
The FCRT also seeks to disseminate Islamic culture, history and arts, in addition to publishing books, magazines and scientific bulletins that support its objectives. Cooperation with academic and cultural institutions with common goals is an essential part of the Foundation’s work, helping to build strong relationships that promote the values of tolerance and interfaith understanding.
Since joining the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace in 2023, the Foundation has been able to work more extensively at the regional and international level in the fields of tolerance, peace and interfaith dialogue. This cooperation enhances the Foundation’s effectiveness and contributes to strengthening its position as a key player in spreading the values of tolerance and understanding at the local and international levels.
