“End the Genocide in Gaza, Cancel Our Debts” – Sultan of Sokoto Tells World Leaders

At the Religion for Peace World Council meeting held Tuesday in Istanbul, Sultan of Sokoto and co-president of the Council, His Eminence Saad Abubakar III, issued a powerful appeal to global leaders, urging an immediate end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and calling for the cancellation of crippling debts afflicting low-income nations.

Addressing delegates from over 60 countries gathered at the Grand Hyatt in Istanbul—formerly Constantinople—the Sultan decried the ongoing violence in Gaza, where, according to the World Health Organization, a growing number of women and children are dying daily due to starvation. He called on international authorities to act swiftly and decisively to halt what he described as a genocide.

The one-day council meeting, last held in Lindau, Germany, brought together representatives from a wide spectrum of global faiths, including Hindu, Baha’i, Catholic, Anglican, Jewish, Muslim, and Orthodox Coptic communities. It featured two main sessions: one focusing on the global debt crisis affecting low-income societies, and another examining the intersection of faith, dignity, and artificial intelligence.

In his address during the debt session, Sultan Abubakar criticized the lasting impact of exploitative economic policies and called for immediate debt cancellation to restore economic balance. He emphasized the need for a fair redistribution of global wealth to reduce poverty and strengthen global stability.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Majesty Bartholomew I, also delivered a keynote speech highlighting the urgent need for a global alliance of conscience. He urged a return to the shared moral values found in all religions as a pathway to lasting peace and social harmony.

The sessions included input from religious leaders, scholars, technocrats, gender rights advocates, and members of royalty. A nine-point resolution adopted unanimously by the council was read out by Secretary-General Dr. Francis Kuria, with one of its key demands being an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

Religion for Peace, headquartered at the United Nations building in New York, is the UN’s interfaith platform dedicated to advancing peace through religious cooperation. The next World Council General Assembly is scheduled to convene in Abu Dhabi in 2030.