[HWPL]

[HWPL] An Appreciation Plaque from an Islamic group in Brazil to HWPL: "I was moved by the peace movement of Chairman Man-hee Lee”

An appreciation plaque produced by the National Association of Islamic Entities (União Nacional Das Entidades Islâmicas - UNI) that was personally awarded to HWPL by the director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai, in recognition of HWPL's peace achievements and for hosting the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit on September 18, 2018

Those who seek interreligious peace agree that religions must unite. Most countries that tolerate religious freedom are multi-religious, and ruling governments desire that these religions contribute to maintaining national peace. Islam is a minority religion in Brazil. As such, its adherents struggle to correct misinformation when it appears. They also pray for religion to achieve peace, justice, and freedom globally.

A commemorative photo is taken of guests at the religious Intercontinental WARP Office Meeting during the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit at Ramada Incheon Hotel on September 19, 2018

Director of Religious Affairs of the National Association of Islamic Entities in Brazil Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai expressed his longing for peace by engaging in various NGO activity. In 2018, he met the peace delegation of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (Chairman Man-hee Lee) and aligned himself with HWPL's vision. He heard about the prodigious peace achievements of Man-hee Lee, the messenger of peace who embarked on 25 world peace tours from the age of eighty - and is now in his nineties - for the purpose of ceasing global conflict and achieving world peace.

Chairman Lee met with former and incumbent presidents to urge them to collaborate for peace, secured peace agreements with influential political, social and religious figures, had religious leaders pledge to unite religions, and met with women and youth representatives to bring peace to nation states worldwide. He urged them to support the DPCW for the cause of peace, and signed peace MOUs and MOAs with schools and academic circles in each country. The media reported extensively on Chairman Lee's accomplishments in this field. Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai, who was approaching the age of 40 at that time, felt convicted after hearing about Chairman Lee's movements.

HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee delivers a speech at the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit on September 18, 2018

Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai is from Syria and has a particular interest in human rights and in peace, refugee, and environmental movements. He was instrumental in his work with the NGO Oasis Solidario in São Paulo, Brazil which acts in the reception and integration of refugees from Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other parts of the African continent who are provided housing, food and Portuguese interpreters.

Since joining HWPL Chairman Lee's peace movement, Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai has acted as the main representative (Speaker) of Islam at the monthly religious WARP  (World Alliance of Religions' Peace) Office dialogues in Iguazú, Brazil since February 2018. He also attended the WARP Summit in Seoul in September that year, where he presented Chairman Lee with an appreciation plaque, on behalf of the UNI, in recognition of HWPL's peace activities, saying, “I want to applaud Chairman Lee for his great achievements in a short period of time for peace activities and I want to be of help." Explaining the motivation behind delivering this plaque to HWPL officials, he said, "UNI is presenting this appreciation plaque to the chairman, who has devoted himself for peace, with gratitude and a sincere wish for world peace."

HWPL members display a card section performance at the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit in the heart of Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on September 18, 2018

Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai was particularly passionate about the enactment of international law in the form of the Declaration of World Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW, 10 Articles 38 Clauses). The following year, on September 14, 2019, he organized and held a campaign in support of the DPCW at a mosque he leads as an Imam. At the event, with the participation of 250 guests, Imam Mohamad Al Bukai said, "I sympathize with what Chairman Lee has done."

His support for HWPL and participation in HWPL's peace movement continued on despite the onset of the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus infection (Covid-19) in 2020. In October 2020, he attended an online WARP Office prayer meeting and later sent a congratulatory video for a webinar ('Voice of Peace in the Global Pandemic') to be held by the same HWPL branch later that month.

Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai of the National Association of Islamic Entities (UNI - center), listens to a congratulatory speech at the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit on September 18, 2018, at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium.

Conversely, the majority faith in Brazil is Christianity, with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism accounting for 74% and 15%, respectively. This is largely due to the spread of Catholicism by the Portuguese colonialists, who asserted Catholicism as a means of colonial rule among the indigenous peoples in the 16th century. Since then, as Protestantism has spread, conflicts have arisen between the Old and Modern churches. Catholic worship in Brazil has been transformed into one closely tied to indigenous peoples' beliefs, and there have been movements within the Catholic Church to reverse this. In Brazil, where the majority adheres to the Christian faith, the Islamic and Buddhist faiths, and the beliefs of the indigenous peoples are classified as minority groups.

In this climate, the National Association of Islamic Entities (UNI) has been working to promote Islam and to eliminate prejudice rooted in public opinion by biased and unfounded domestic and global news. It carries out social initiatives for refugees and youth, and plays a role in publishing written and online content and supporting the Brazilian media. It is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, and has 17 offices across the country.

Director of Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai of the National Association of Islamic Entities (UNI) is gifted 'The True Story of HWPL' book, which details HWPL's peace work, by an HWPL official on September 18, 2018

Peace!