The Delegation of the Universal Peace Message in Vienna and Hungary: The Speech of the Mind in the Opposition of the Clash of Concepts

In a unique diplomatic and intellectual tour, a high-level delegation from the Universal Peace Message Foundation made an official visit to the Austrian capital, Vienna, carrying a message of peace and awareness to the heart of Europe. The visit, which took place in January 2025, included a series of events, as well as important diplomatic and cultural meetings. It culminated in a major conference at the Egyptian Club in Vienna entitled “Awareness, Peace, and Nation-Building,” attended by a notable diplomatic and official presence.

In the Embrace of the United Nations

The delegation was presided over by journalist Magdy Tantawy, General Manager of the Universal Peace Message Foundation. It included an elite group of intellectuals and researchers, namely Dr. Gerges Awad, Secretary-General of the Foundation; researcher Mohamed Fathi, Head of the Arab Center for Research and Studies; Dr. Mohamed Yehia Gheida, Head of International Relations in the Foundation and Professor at Mansoura University; and Mr. Bahgat Elebidy, official at the Vienna Office and for the States of Eastern Europe.

The visit started with a clear vision aiming at enhancing the culture of peace and coexistence at both regional and international levels, correcting misconceptions, and denouncing violence and hatred. This vision is rooted in the thoughts of the Arab thinker Ali Mohamed El-Shorafa El-Hammadi, which emphasize returning to the Quran as a supreme reference that affirms humanity and promotes equality and brotherhood among all people.

In an important diplomatic step, the delegation visited the headquarters of the United Nations regional office in Vienna, where it held a series of meetings with officials of the international organization. During these meetings, the Foundation’s vision and intellectual approach were presented, aiming to denounce violence and hatred and enhance the values of peaceful coexistence.

The delegation provided UN officials with a German-translated copy of the books of Ali El-Shorafa El-Hammadi, focusing on correcting misconceptions and building strong foundations for human understanding.

In a comment on this visit, Magdy Tantawy wrote an essay entitled “A Regional Office for the United Nations in the Administrative Capital: A Strategic Opportunity for Egypt.” The essay was inspired by the Austrian experience, which hosts the UN regional office for a symbolic rent of one euro annually, noting that around five thousand employees work at this headquarters and spend their incomes within Austria. These expenditures contribute to the local economy, alongside the international reputation and political prestige that Austria gains.

Building the Bridges of Cultural Cooperation

Within the framework of enhancing cultural and intellectual cooperation, the Foundation’s delegation held an important meeting with the Eventi Association. This meeting was coordinated by writer Bahgat Elebidy, Director of the Vienna Office and for Eastern Europe.

During the meeting, the delegation presented Ali Mohamed El-Shorafa El-Hammadi’s project and the Foundation’s goals in promoting the values of coexistence, spreading enlightened religious awareness, and combating extremist thought through reason and knowledge.

In a notable intervention, Dr. Gerges Awad highlighted the points of convergence between El-Shorafa El-Hammadi’s thought and the ideas of religious reformer Martin Luther, describing El-Shorafa as the “Arab Martin Luther,” as his project carries a bold call to renew religious discourse and return to the essence of divine values, away from extremism and closed-mindedness.

From her side, Ms. Basma El-Alfy expressed her strong support for the Foundation’s goals, asserting the readiness of the Eventi Association for mutual cooperation. The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue coordination and open new horizons for spreading the Foundation’s objectives.

An Open Dialogue

Amid continuous efforts to enhance the culture of dialogue and entrench the values of  societal awareness, the General Union of Egyptians in Austria organized a high-level intellectual dialogue conference in the city of Leoben, under the leadership of Engineer Hossam Bazina, entitled “Awareness, Peace, and Nation-Building.” The seminar hosted a delegation from the Universal Peace Message Foundation.

The event was organized by Egyptian writer Bahgat Elebidy, General Manager of the Foundation in Austria and the States of Eastern Europe. It was attended by Doaa Abo Seda, the Foundation’s representative in Austria.

The conference featured a diverse presence of intellectuals and academics from different generations, engaging in a lively and open dialogue. The participation of women played an influential role in enriching the discussion.

The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. Khaled Abo Shanb, Egyptian Cultural Counselor in Vienna, who affirmed that culture is the most important bridge among nations and that civilizational dialogue is capable of dismantling stereotypes and correcting misconceptions.

The Filtration of Religious Discourse

Journalist Magdy Tantawy gave a speech highlighting the Foundation’s intellectual project based on the vision of Ali Mohamed El-Shorafa El-Hammadi, which calls for filtering religious discourse from foreign concepts and returning to the Quran as the highest reference.

Bishop Dr. Gerges Awad spoke about the humanitarian dimension of the message, asserting that religions exist to promote peace, not conflict, and that enhancing the values of respect and cooperation among people is the true path to justice and stability.

Dr. Mohamed Fathi El-Sharif addressed the importance of the Foundation’s intellectual approach in confronting extremism and closed-mindedness, emphasizing that the project presents a rational and integrated vision that restores the position of human values.

Dr. Mohamed Yehia Gheida focused on the role of new generations as the main pillar for nation-building, highlighting awareness of responsibility and dialogue based on the correct understanding of religion, which constitutes the foundation for development and stability.

Great Events in Vienna

The events organized by the Universal Peace Message Foundation at the Egyptian Club in Vienna on Tuesday, 27th January 2025, marked the peak of the delegation’s intellectual activity in Austria. The event, entitled “Awareness, Peace, and Nation-Building,” witnessed exceptional diplomatic, official, and cultural participation.

The event was inaugurated by journalist Magdy Tantawy, General Manager of the Foundation, who gave a welcoming speech highlighting the cultural and intellectual role of the Club in connecting diaspora members with their homeland.

He moderated the seminar and presented its objectives and main topics, emphasizing that awareness represents the cornerstone for building stable societies capable of facing challenges.

He highlighted that the Egyptian state has achieved significant qualitative progress in recent years, thanks to the strategic vision established by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He clarified that national awareness is a key pillar in protecting countries from attempts at dismantling and distortion. Emphasizing that building an aware individual is the first line of defense for national security, he noted that societal awareness has become an urgent necessity in this critical phase, as nations face unconventional challenges targeting minds before borders. He stressed that the Egyptian experience serves as a clear model of how a state can restore its vitality despite formidable challenges, thanks to the cohesion of its institutions and the promotion of a culture of awareness and national belonging.

He further emphasized that awareness is not only knowledge but also a behavior and ethical value, highlighting that love for one’s country is a religious and ethical duty as sacred as any other.

He explained that the Foundation works to instill the concept of enlightened awareness, based on respect for the homeland, preservation of its resources, and rejection of violence and hatred.

He also recited a poem entitled “Weeping over the Martyr’s Flag,” which highlighted the heroism of the October 6 War and depicted a moving human scene in which a mother’s last message to her children revealed that their father had been martyred while raising the national flag.

The Head of Al Arab Center Displays the Project: “By Awareness, Nations Are Built”

The project “By Awareness, Nations Are Built” was presented, clarifying that it relies on the enlightening thoughts of Ali Mohamed El-Shorafa, focusing on correcting misconceptions, reconsidering the values of peace and rationality, and promoting respect for the nation. The Egyptian experience was praised, noting that President El-Sisi and the Egyptian state drew inspiration from developed countries in terms of institutional strength and strategic vision.

In turn, Dr. Girgis Awad, Secretary-General of the organization, explained that the “Message of Peace” advocated by Ali Mohamed El-Shorafa El-Hammadi is a pure humanitarian message of love, rooted in the essence of divine religions, all of which call for peace, justice, and respect for human beings.

Dr. Mohamed Yehia Gheida, Head of External Relations, emphasized that cultivating awareness is a collective responsibility requiring rational and enlightened discourse capable of confronting intellectual extremism and promoting a culture of dialogue and coexistence.

The event concluded with an exchange of honors between the organization and the attendees. The Egyptian Club in Vienna honored journalist Magdy Tantawy, Mohamed Fathy Al-Sharif, Dr. Girgis Awad, and Dr. Mohamed Yehia Gheida. In return, the organization’s delegation presented the organization’s shield and the Arab Center for Research and Studies award to Dr. Khaled Shaalan (on behalf of Ambassador Mohamed Nasr), Counselor Mohamed Al-Buheiry, Mr. Nady Rifaat, Dr. Khaled Abu Shanab, Mr. Khaled Hussein, and Engineer Magdy Hanna.