Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Meets with the Grand Mufti, Head of the Spiritual Department of Muslims of Kazakhstan, to Discuss Strengthening Cooperation in Supporting and Empowering Youth and Protecting Them from Destructive and Extremist Movements

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, met with His Eminence Nurizbay Taganuli Utbenov, the Grand Mufti and Head of the Spiritual Department of Muslims of Kazakhstan, during the 22nd session of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held on October 7 and 8 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in addressing the challenges facing Muslim communities, particularly in safeguarding youth from the influence of destructive and extremist ideologies.

Judge Abdelsalam emphasized that the Muslim Council of Elders, under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, places significant importance on empowering young people to promote peace and spread the values of tolerance and human fraternity. He highlighted several pioneering initiatives undertaken by the Council, including the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, the Student Dialogues for Human Fraternity, and the Ethical Education Program. These programs aim to foster a culture of dialogue and peaceful coexistence, providing a global platform for young people from different cultures and faiths to contribute innovative ideas on enhancing interfaith and intercultural solidarity, turning these values into practical actions that support peaceful coexistence in societies.

His Eminence Nurizbay Utbenov underscored the crucial role religious leaders play in guiding and protecting youth from extremist ideologies. He praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, led by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in promoting peace, tolerance, moderation, and combating all forms of extremism and terrorism. He also noted that the Council’s Central Asia branch, based in Astana, serves as a pioneering platform for promoting dialogue, enhancing coexistence, engaging with Muslim communities in the region, and reviving the intellectual heritage of Muslim scholars, introducing these figures to younger generations.

Both parties concluded also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening constructive cooperation and agreed to launch several joint initiatives, including a series of publications promoting enlightened and moderate thought, as well as efforts to advance dialogue and peaceful coexistence.