TASHKENT, 2nd May, 2025 (WAM) -- The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam met in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, with Saida Shavkat Mirziyoyeva, First Assistant to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in reviving the intellectual heritage of the Muslim Ummah's scholars and highlighting their contributions across various fields of knowledge, as well as reintroducing their legacy and scientific and humanitarian contributions to present and future generations.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General expressed the Council's appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Republic of Uzbekistan, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in preserving Islamic heritage - particularly in historically significant Islamic cities such as Bukhara and Samarkand. He also affirmed the Council's support, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, for the Center for Islamic Civilization, which is scheduled to be inaugurated in Uzbekistan later this year and is expected to serve as a beacon of Islamic civilization in Central Asia.

The Secretary-General also praised the vital role played by Saida Mirziyoyeva and her efforts in supporting youth initiatives, empowering Uzbek women, and presenting an inspiring model of Muslim women's success across all fields.

For her part, the First Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan welcomed the participation of the Muslim Council of Elders in the international conference titled "Maturidism: A Doctrine of Tolerance, Moderation, and Knowledge" held in Samarkand. She expressed her appreciation for the Council's continued interest in Uzbekistan, which was recently reinforced by the appointment of His Eminence Sheikh Nuriddin Kholiknazar, Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, as a member of the Muslim Council of Elders.

She commended the strong and deep-rooted relations between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates, noting that the coming period will witness increased cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Muslim Council of Elders through various initiatives and events that promote dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and peace.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides discussed Uzbekistan's potential hosting of the upcoming edition of the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, one of the Muslim Council of Elders' most impactful initiatives, in conjunction with preparations for the inauguration of the Center for Islamic Civilization.