[HWPL]

[HWPL] A Plaque of Appreciation Awarded to HWPL by the President of the Muslim Association of Greece: "We are very honored to participate and together to promote the Supreme Ideal of World Peace.”

A plaque of appreciation delivered by the President of the Muslim Association of Greece Naim Elghandour to Man-hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, for his unwavering commitment to world peace and his invitation to the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit

It is the minority, often scorned by the majority, who most experience crises and yearn for peace and equality. The situation is made even worse by the centuries old dispute between religions.

The Muslim minority is relatively unwelcome in Greece, where the majority of the population (97%) identifies with the Greek Orthodox Church as its national religion. Islam, which is represented by a minority, has become a religion of scorn, especially in Greece. Historically, some might attribute this to the failed attempts by Islamic nations, such as the Ottoman Empire, to conquer Europe.

HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee explains the peace achievements to reporters at a press conference held at the end of the WARP Summit on September 19, 2014

A parade of world faith leaders, former and current presidents, politicians, women and youth in procession during the opening ceremony of the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit held at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul on September 17, 2014

The first mosque was built in Greece in 2020, and it is the most recent mosque to be built in an European capital city. It was completed 100 years after construction began and is the product of a lifelong effort by Naim Elghandour, president of the Muslim Association of Greece, to safeguard the rights of Muslims in Greece. The Muslim Association of Greece was established in 2003 for Muslims, who are a religious minority in Greece, to unite all Muslims nationwide and to promote a positive image of Islam.

But now, with Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), Mr. Elghandour's scope of activity has widened as he works for world peace and interreligious peace. After hearing about the efforts of HWPL's Chairman Man-hee Lee and his delegation for world peace, Mr. Elghandour decided that he would participate in the peace movement. He sympathized with HWPL's ultimate goal: the cessation of war and world peace through a law for peace, interfaith harmony, and peace education.

President of the Muslim Association of Greece Naim Elgandour and his wife in attendance at the WARP Summit.

Mr. Elghandour was invited as a VIP to the WARP Summit, which was attended by 200,000 guests and volunteers, in South Korea in September 2014. He designed a plaque of appreciation, which he conferred on Chairman Lee during his visit to Korea. The plaque of appreciation reads, "The Muslim Association of Greece congratulates HWPL for this significant Summit of the World Alliance of Religions", and, "We are very honored to participate and together to promote the Supreme Ideal of World Peace." The plaque of appreciation was delivered by Mr. Elghandour to Chairman Man-hee Lee through HWPL officials on September 18, 2019. Although being adherents of a minority group in Greece, they were treated as equals at the HWPL WARP Summit, and they produced this plaque of appreciation as an expression of gratitude for the opportunity to become one under the cause of ‘peace’.

Mr. Elghandour also witnessed the bewildering spectacle of people from all over the world becoming one through the signing of the 'Agreement to Propose the Enactment of International Law for the Cessation of Wars and World Peace’ and ‘Unity of Religions Agreement’ at the Grand Ballroom of the 63 Convention Center in Yeouido-dong, Seoul, on the same date. Signatories included 12 representatives from 11 faiths, including Catholicism, Anglicanism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Candomblé, Jainism, and Bahaism.

Mr. Elghandour and his wife were firsthand witnesses of the scene of events that unfolded. Although unable to actively participate in subsequent HWPL peace activities due to a language barrier, Mr. Elghandour positively evaluated and expressed his support for HWPL. In August 2021, he delivered a presentation on behalf of his organisation at an online conference hosted by the HWPL Daejeon Chungcheong branch.

HWPL members deliver a Mass Games card performance to symbolize peace at the opening ceremony of the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit held at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul on September 17, 2014

Peace!