The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has met with His Excellency Adham Ikramov, the Minister of Youth and Sport in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The meeting discussed mutual cooperation and explored various initiatives and activities focused on empowering and enhancing the active contributions of youth in building their communities.

During the meeting, Judge Abdelsalam emphasized that the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, places a great importance on youth by establishing a range of initiatives aimed at harnessing their energies and utilizing their capabilities to promote peace and contribute to development. He also highlighted the significance of connecting youth with their Islamic heritage, not only to strengthen their cultural and religious identity but also to build their awareness and deep understanding of human values which also contributes to the active participation of youth in the development of their societies and the protection of positive values and peace globally.

The Secretary-General also outlined key initiatives of the Council related to youth that have contributed to building and developing their capabilities. Notably, 90% of participants in these initiatives, including both young men and women, have assumed leadership positions in their respective countries and that the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, which was held for the second time in Geneva this year, aims to prepare young leaders in the field of peacebuilding and affirm the principles of coexistence in societies. Abdelsalam also emphasized the importance of the participation of Uzbek youth in the upcoming edition of the forum, in order to leverage their insights, ideas, and experiences to promote tolerance and peace, especially given Uzbekistan's diverse society which embraces over 130 different ethnicities.

For his part, Minister Adham Ikramov praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and its continuous support for youth through various purposeful initiatives and projects. He highlighted that his ministry focuses primarily on supporting the capacities of youth, the largest segment of Uzbekistan's population, and raising their awareness and qualifications to contribute to building a balanced and knowledgeable generation which would be armed with faith and capable of taking responsibility to construct thriving societies and a better future for all. He further expressed his eagerness to enhance cooperation with the Muslim Council of Elders in various potential meaningful initiatives.