The 1st Muslim Diaspora Forum, titled “From Roots to Roads,” has begun in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, bringing together representatives of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), heads of diaspora organizations, government and state officials, experts and members of the public.
The forum aims to strengthen solidarity among Muslim diasporas, enable them to operate more actively and effectively in their countries of residence, develop state-diaspora relations, and identify new opportunities for international cooperation. It has brought representatives from different countries together on a common platform, News Cover reports, citing Azerbaijan's State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fuad Muradov, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Musa Kulaklıkaya, Chairman of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) Abdulhadi Turus, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs Dawas Dawas, Pakistan’s Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Director General of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) Zahra Zumrut Selcuk participated in and addressed the forum.
The speakers highlighted the importance of closer cooperation and coordination among Muslim diasporas in addressing global challenges, as well as the need to make more effective use of the potential of diaspora communities.
Fuad Muradov, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora, said that President Ilham Aliyev attaches particular importance to strengthening ties with Azerbaijanis living abroad, supporting their organization, preserving their national identity and promoting their active integration into the social and political life of their countries of residence.
He noted that, in line with Azerbaijan’s diaspora policy, particular importance is attached to expanding ties and cooperation with Azerbaijani communities living in different countries, further strengthening the activities of diaspora organizations, and supporting the development of Azerbaijan Houses, weekend schools and other diaspora institutions.
Speaking about efforts to strengthen the solidarity of Azerbaijanis around the world, Muradov said that the committee had organized more than 800 events in 70 countries over the course of the year. He noted that these initiatives contribute to strengthening the organization of Azerbaijanis abroad and preserving national values.
At the same time, he stressed that the responsibility of diaspora organizations has increased amid global challenges and rapidly changing international relations, while common historical, religious and cultural values provide an important foundation for strengthening solidarity among diaspora communities.
“In this regard, developing ties among Muslim diasporas, establishing mechanisms for mutual support and promoting coordinated action on international platforms are of particular importance,” Muradov said.
The chairman noted that the theme “From Roots to Roads” accurately reflects the common mission and priorities of OIC member states.
“While remaining firmly connected to their roots, diaspora organizations should also open new paths for future generations. These paths should bring our peoples closer together, connect our diasporas with their historical homelands and further strengthen cooperation among our nations. I am confident that this dialogue will eventually develop into concrete initiatives, joint projects and deeper institutional cooperation among institutions responsible for diaspora affairs in OIC member states,” he said.
Muradov also added that Azerbaijan has already established successful cooperation in this area with Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, Romania and five other countries.
The forum also featured extensive discussions on current challenges facing Muslim diasporas and ways to address them, increasing the participation of diaspora organizations in the public life of their countries of residence, developing institutional ties between state institutions and diaspora communities, establishing joint platforms for cooperation, and sharing successful experiences from different countries.
The forum continued with panel discussions.
