More than 2,000 leaders gather in Kuala Lumpur for religious summit on peace and youth leadership

More than 2,000 religious, academic, policy and youth leaders from 31 countries met in Kuala Lumpur on June 12 for the Third International Summit of Religious Leaders. The event focused on peace, social harmony and equipping young people to navigate artificial intelligence and digital change. Why it matters: - The summit put youth leadership and interfaith cooperation at the center of a global conversation about social stability, extremism and emerging technology. - The event aimed to translate religious dialogue into practical support for younger generations facing AI-driven and digital-era risks. - The announcement of a new international award adds a formal recognition mechanism for peace, moderation and conflict resolution work. What happened: - More than 2,000 religious leaders, academics, researchers, policymakers, diplomats and youth representatives from 31 countries met in Kuala Lumpur on June 12 for the Third International Summit of Religious Leaders 2026. - The summit took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. - The event was organized through cooperation between the Muslim World League and the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. - Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Muslim World League Secretary-General and Council of Ulemas President Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa opened the summit. - The gathering also included 26 ambassadors, dozens of ministers and senior international officials. The details: - Al-Issa used the opening remarks to stress the responsibility of religious leaders to confront challenges affecting global stability and social cohesion. - Al-Issa also emphasized giving younger generations intellectual resilience and ethical values to manage the opportunities and risks of emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence and digital media. - Nearly 2,000 young participants from different cultural and religious backgrounds joined debates throughout the summit. - The youth sessions focused on responsible digital citizenship, inclusive leadership, countering extremism and constructive participation in public life. - International speakers examined four core themes: social harmony and mutual respect, youth leadership and education, challenges facing young people, and the role of religious leadership in shaping future generations. - Participants highlighted dialogue, coexistence and collaboration as tools for building resilient societies. - During the closing session, organizers announced the Global Diplomacy Award. - The award is a new international initiative jointly sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Muslim World League. - The award will recognize people and institutions that advance peace, promote moderation and tolerance, strengthen coexistence, and support the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes. - Outside the summit, Al-Issa met with young religious leaders, university students and researchers from different cultures and religions. - The meetings underscored intergenerational engagement and constructive dialogue as foundations for a more peaceful and inclusive future. Between the lines: - The summit reflected a broader push to position religious leadership as a practical force in social cohesion, not just a ceremonial one. - The strong youth focus suggests organizers see younger people as essential partners in addressing extremism, digital behavior and public trust. - The award announcement signals an effort to turn the summit’s message into a continuing international platform. What’s next: - Organizers are signaling continued cooperation on peace, ethical leadership and youth investment. - The new Global Diplomacy Award is expected to recognize future contributions from individuals and institutions working on moderation, coexistence and peaceful dispute resolution. - The Muslim World League said it remains committed to moderation, humanitarian work and cooperation among civilizations. The bottom line: - Kuala Lumpur became a stage for a large interfaith and youth-led push to link religious leadership with peacebuilding, digital-age resilience and global cooperation.