Religious leaders conclude a summit in Kuala Lumpur on June 22, 2026, urging youth empowerment and ethical safeguards for artificial intelligence, with participation from the Muslim World League and Malaysian leaders.

The Third International Summit of Religious Leaders 2026 concluded in Kuala Lumpur with the participation of Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League. The event was held under the patronage of Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with nearly 2,000 religious, youth, and academic leaders attending.

In his opening address, Al-Issa emphasised the responsibility of religious leaders for global peace and social harmony. He highlighted risks from unrestricted exposure to modern technology, especially artificial intelligence, without intellectual safeguards or ethical protection. He said religious diplomacy was important in defusing crises and that the world needed more wisdom rather than more weapons.

On the sidelines, Al-Issa met youth leaders and university students from ASEAN countries in an open dialogue on implementing summit outcomes. The discussions focused on enhancing youth awareness, empowering young people, and building their capacities to address ethical gaps in information and communication technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

During the meeting, Al-Issa said a lack of transparency and accountability was one of the most serious ethical challenges associated with artificial intelligence. He noted that data biases could result in unfair decisions and discrimination against individuals and groups.

The summit also announced the International Diplomacy Award. The award aimed to promote moderation, tolerance and constructive dialogueå. It was to be given to individuals and institutions with a significant impact on promoting peace and human unity.