Al-Azhar Observatory’s 4th edition of ‘Listen and Talk’ Forum calls for integrating Palestinian cause into educational curricula

CAIRO – 6 May 2025: Participants in the fourth edition of the “Listen and Talk” Forum, organized by Egypt’s Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE), put forward a series of recommendations aimed at supporting the Palestinian cause. Key proposals included integrating the Palestinian issue systematically into educational curricula at all levels and launching a wide-reaching digital media campaign to expose the practices of the Zionist occupation.

In its closing statement, the Forum emphasized the need to develop training programs for youth focused on community engagement, leadership, and initiative. It recommended supporting youth-led initiatives that address social and economic challenges within local communities, alongside providing financial and technical backing for civil society organizations that empower young people. Additionally, the statement called for greater collaboration between civil society organizations and governmental bodies such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Education, and Al-Azhar University, to ensure youth participation in initiatives and events at the local, regional, and international levels.

The Forum further recommended enhancing cooperation between educational institutions and civil society to design interactive programs that cultivate critical thinking and promote active citizenship among young people. Such efforts, it stressed, would serve as a safeguard against extremist ideologies and foster constructive societal engagement. It also underscored the importance of verifying news and information through official sources, echoing the Quranic principle: "Then verify."

On strengthening youth involvement in supporting the Palestinian cause, the Forum advocated for the integration of the issue into educational content with a focus on its historical, humanitarian, and legal dimensions. It highlighted the crucial role of the Egyptian state—particularly Al-Azhar Al-Sharif—in championing this cause, thereby raising awareness among young people and encouraging their active engagement, especially in digital spaces.

The Forum proposed the establishment of a fund to support alternative youth-led media initiatives, recognizing media as a powerful tool for disseminating constructive content and responsibly addressing social and humanitarian issues. This fund would aim to provide an attractive, trustworthy platform for youth expression and creativity—protecting them from extremist media, biased international narratives, and misinformation surrounding the Palestinian statehood cause.

It also called for the launch of a large-scale digital media campaign led by youth to expose the practices of the Zionist occupation and to inform the international community of the rights of the Palestinian people. The campaign would leverage modern digital tools to maximize global reach and impact.

To support this, the Forum emphasized the importance of building youth capacity in digital media, suggesting the organization of workshops and training programs in content creation, digital marketing, and combating hate speech and extremist ideologies. Al-Azhar Observatory announced plans to soon unveil a comprehensive training package designed to deconstruct extremist ideologies in both Arab and Western contexts. The Observatory also committed to backing youth-led digital initiatives that counter misinformation and hate speech, and to providing platforms for showcasing digital creativity and sharing experiences.

As part of this commitment, the Observatory announced the launch of the Ihya platform, intended to serve as a foundation for future digital platforms aimed at engaging youth.

The fourth edition of the “Listen and Talk” Forum concluded with a call to action: to transform these recommendations into tangible outcomes. The Forum urged all relevant institutions and dynamic young individuals to join forces in achieving these shared goals, reaffirming the belief that youth are the true architects of the future. The organizers expressed their optimism and openness to new ideas, particularly in preparation for the Forum’s fifth edition next year.