Astana Religious Leaders Meeting Wraps Up With Call for Dialogue to Ease Tensions
TEHRAN (Iran News) The event hosted 28 religious leaders’ delegations from around 22 countries which ended with issuing a declaration which emphasized the role of dialogue in easing escalating tensions in the world.
Opening the session, Maulen Ashimbayev, chairperson of the Senate, an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament and chairman of the secretariat of the congress, highlighted the 20th anniversary of the congress. Since 2003, seven congresses have been held in Astana, besides hundreds of meetings. More than 30 agreements on cooperation were signed with international structures.
“But more important are the qualitative results achieved through our work together. First, over the 20 years, our congress has become a unique dialogue platform uniting the first leaders and the most authoritative high representatives of all world and traditional religions,” said Ashimbayev.
Among other achievements, he outlined the congress’s role in establishing global interreligious dialogue and international relations and its contribution to the harmonious development of a multiconfessional society in Kazakhstan.
According to Ashimbayev, it has become essential to raise awareness of political instruments that can peacefully address escalating global geopolitical tensions.
“We are concerned by the actions of provocateurs, who are trying to manipulate the religious beliefs for self-serving purposes. Burning sacred scriptures and insulting religious symbols is vandalism that incites hostility between peoples and religions. Such inadmissible and barbaric actions, as the head of state [Kassym-Jomart Tokayev] noted, have nothing to do with freedom of speech. These values can provide peace and a solid foundation for a new world order. The role of leaders of world and traditional religions in this process is very important,” said Ashimbayev.
Nazir Mohamed Mohamed Elnazir Ayad, secretary general of Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy, has offered blessings and support for the congress’s work.
“We see conflicts, wars, use of weapons and this shows us that in this era our world needs a voice of wisdom and a call for peace. Through this, we could go back to our true path. We, as religious leaders, shall spread these ideas and we need to be unbiased in this question,” said Ayad.
“Islam urges its followers to coexist with others and to interact with others on the principles of righteousness. We understand that principles of coexistence should take into account the differences of people and culture,” he added.
He also stressed that it is time to move from the theoretical dimension into the practical.
Leaders of religions all in the event in their speeches emphasized dialogue for easing tensions.
During the session, the participants approved the Development Concept of the Congress for 2023-2033, prepared on instructions of the President as the document is aimed at deepening the cooperation of the UN agencies and other credible international agencies.
Following the meeting, the participants adopted a communique in which its participants noted the successful 20-year activity and the important creative role of the Congress and also supported the Idea of Kazakh President Tokayev on the need to create a new global movement for peace in order to build a solid system of international security and overcome acute challenges and problems.
At the end of the session, the ceremony of awarding the participants in the Congress was held.
Meanwhile on the same day in a ceremony was held to unveil the anniversary postage stamp specially issued on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Congress and it was issued in a circulation of 10,000 pieces.
