Global religious leaders close Kuala Lumpur summit with focus on peace and youth

More than 2,000 religious leaders, scholars, policymakers, diplomats and youth representatives from 31 countries met in Kuala Lumpur on June 12 for the 3rd International Religious Leaders Summit 2026. The gathering centered on social harmony, youth empowerment and the risks of social media and artificial intelligence, and ended with the launch of a new Global Diplomacy Award. Why it matters: - The summit put religious leadership, youth engagement and technology risks at the center of a global peace agenda. - The meeting framed young people as key to handling the ethical and security challenges tied to social media and artificial intelligence. - The event also introduced a new international award meant to recognize peacebuilding and conflict resolution. What happened: - More than 2,000 religious leaders, scholars, researchers, policymakers, diplomats and youth representatives from 31 countries gathered in Kuala Lumpur on June 12, 2026, for the 3rd International Religious Leaders Summit 2026. - The summit was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. - The Muslim World League and the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia co-organized the event. - The opening ceremony was attended by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and MWL Secretary-General and chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa. - Twenty-six ambassadors, multiple ministers and senior international representatives also attended. The details: - Al-Issa said religious leaders carry responsibility for addressing the many issues tied to world peace and social harmony. - Al-Issa highlighted risks from unrestricted exposure to modern technology, including artificial intelligence, without sufficient intellectual resilience or ethical safeguards. - A major focus of the summit was youth empowerment strategies to address risks linked to social media and AI. - Participants from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds discussed building an international youth-engagement future based on shared principles and goals. - The summit aimed to help address ethical and security challenges from rapid technological change. - Discussions also covered extremism and violent extremism, with young people increasingly targeted. - Speakers examined four main themes: social harmony and mutual respect, youth leadership and education, modern challenges affecting young people, and the role of religious leaders in nurturing the next generation. - Participants emphasized dialogue, coexistence and cooperation as tools for building resilient societies. Between the lines: - The summit linked interfaith leadership with digital-age governance, signaling that religious institutions want a stronger role in shaping responses to AI and online harms. - The focus on youth suggests organizers see the next generation as both vulnerable to manipulation and essential to long-term stability. - The launch of the Global Diplomacy Award gives the summit a longer-term platform beyond a single meeting. - The award is co-sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Muslim World League. - The award will recognize individuals and institutions that contribute to peace, moderation, tolerance, coexistence and peaceful settlement of disputes. - On the sidelines, Al-Issa met with young religious leaders, university students and researchers representing different cultures and faiths. - Those meetings underscored the importance of intergenerational engagement and constructive dialogue in shaping a more peaceful and inclusive future. What’s next: - The summit closed with renewed calls for international cooperation, ethical leadership and greater investment in youth as partners in peace, understanding and sustainable development. - The new Global Diplomacy Award will serve as an ongoing mechanism to highlight peacebuilding efforts. - The Muslim World League said it will continue promoting moderation, humanitarian work and civilizational cooperation through its global network. The bottom line: - The Kuala Lumpur summit positioned religious leadership, youth empowerment and ethical technology use as shared priorities for global stability.