دسمبر 22، 2025

His Excellency Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Karachi International Book Fair 2025. During the visit, the Minister reviewed a selection of the Council’s diverse intellectual publications and commended their role in promoting the values of dialogue, understanding, and intellectual awareness.

The Minister also learned about the cultural and intellectual program accompanying the Council’s participation in the fair, which includes thought-provoking seminars and open discussions addressing contemporary intellectual issues and contributing to the consolidation of a culture of peace and coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders continues its first participation at the Karachi International Book Fair, attracting significant interest from visitors across various academic, cultural, and intellectual fields, with growing attention to its publications and cultural program.

As part of this participation, the Council is showcasing over 250 intellectual titles in eight languages, including 12 publications in Urdu, reflecting its commitment to expanding knowledge exchange and promoting a culture of dialogue and peace through books and learning.

The Council’s pavilion at the Karachi International Book Fair is located in Hall 1, Pavilion 45 at the Karachi Expo Center and is open December 18 to 22, 2025.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion hosted its third symposium as part of the activities of the Karachi International Book Fair 2025, titled: “The Role of Islamic Institutions in Promoting Islamic–Islamic Dialogue.” The session featured Hujjat al-Islam Allama Mawlana Asghar Hussain Shahidi, Board Member at Al-Fatimiya International University, Director of the Leadership and Educational Management System, and Secretary-General of the Association of Scholars and Imams of Karachi Mosques; and Dr. Muhammad Amir Taseen, Executive Director of the Scientific Council Foundation – Karachi. The discussion was moderated by Muhammad Aslam Raza Al-Azhari, Secretary-General of the World Association of Al-Azhar Graduates – Pakistan Branch.

The symposium opened by emphasizing the vital role of religious and educational institutions in promoting Islamic–Islamic dialogue, noting that the Muslim Council of Elders seeks to transform dialogue from a theoretical concept into practical programs that create tangible impact within Muslim communities. Participants praised the Bahrain Dialogue Forum which was organized by the Council and its outcome—the Ahlul-Qiblah Call—as a reference framework outlining the principles and foundations needed for Islamic–Islamic dialogue.

Dr. Muhammad Amir Taseen stressed that Intra–Islamic dialogue is an essential tool for addressing intellectual challenges and combating extremism through constructive engagement. He highlighted the ability of religious and educational institutions to play a pivotal role as platforms for spreading a culture of dialogue, while underscoring the need to leverage technology and social media to broaden discussions, enhance understanding within communities, and involve youth and women as future leaders and guardians of diversity.

For his part, Hujjat al-Islam Mawlana Asghar Hussain Shahidi affirmed that religious institutions bear a major responsibility in promoting a culture of tolerance. He explained that the pulpit represents the voice of society and that moderation in discourse directly influences moderation among people. He emphasized that internal dialogue among Islamic schools and currents is essential to strengthen unity across all components of the Ummah. He called for developing curricula that focus on commonalities among schools of thought, establishing joint councils of scholars from different traditions, and facilitating exchange visits between educational and religious institutions.

He further noted that dialogue is not a secondary option but a civilizational necessity to safeguard the unity of the Ummah amid contemporary intellectual challenges. Dialogue, he said, provides a practical entry point to reduce sectarian conflicts and achieve coexistence. He stressed the importance of organizing regular conferences and workshops, supporting youth-led initiatives that promote understanding, and launching training programs for imams and preachers on the culture of dialogue to ensure the spread of responsible and balanced discourse that strengthens Islamic and human fraternity.

The symposium witnessed broad participation from university professors, students, and researchers from various religious and educational institutions in Pakistan. It concluded with an open discussion session, during which attendees praised the Muslim Council of Elders’ initiatives and efforts to promote Intra–Islamic dialogue and spread values of fraternity and mutual understanding within communities.

The Council’s pavilion at the Karachi International Book Fair is located in Hall 1, Pavilion 45 at the Karachi Expo Center and is open December 18 to 22, 2025.

As part of a series of initiatives aimed at promoting the ethical use of artificial intelligence and leveraging media to spread values of dialogue, coexistence, and peace, the Muslim Council of Elders’ Central Asia office organized its second high-level roundtable titled “Media and Peace Journalism in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The event took place at the Friendship House in Almaty, in cooperation with the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the International Center for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, with the participation of decision-makers, academics, journalists, and media experts from across Central Asia.

The roundtable opened with welcoming remarks by Senator Dr. Darkhan Kuandykuly Kydyrali, Member of the Senate and General Supervisor of the Muslim Council of Elders’ Central Asia office, who read a congratulatory message from H.E. Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan. In his message, Ashimbayev emphasized that in light of rapid technological transformations, media responsibility, adherence to ethical standards, and the promotion of peace-oriented narratives are critical factors in fostering social harmony and stability. He highlighted the importance of strengthening media literacy and building public trust through responsible journalism.

In his address, Dr. Kydyrali expressed gratitude to all participants and organizers, extending special appreciation to the Muslim Council of Elders under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and to the Council’s Secretary-General, Counselor Mohamed Abdel Salam, as well as the Central Asia office for their continuous support of peacebuilding and dialogue initiatives in the region.

Another speech was delivered by Senator Gulsana Karpikovna Kozhabay, who read a message from Aida G. Balayeva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan. Balayeva stressed that developing peace journalism and embedding ethical media practices has become an urgent necessity to counter misinformation, hate speech, and social polarization in the digital age. She noted the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping public opinion and the need for clear ethical frameworks to regulate its use.

Senator Kozhabay also announced plans to organize a large-scale international conference in early 2026, supported by the Senate and the Muslim Council of Elders, inviting all stakeholders to actively participate in this upcoming initiative.

During the session, Senator Bibigul Zheksenbay expressed her gratitude to the organizers and participants, underscoring the importance of addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and modern media. She called for transforming specialized discussions into practical ideas that can reach the general public, stressing that dialogue should extend not only between religions but also among nations and cultures, with a strong emphasis on the language of peace in public discourse. She cited Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s statement: “Social stability is the cornerstone of any sustainable society.”

Zhuldyzai Ysаkova, Chairperson of the Board of the Kazakhstan Institute for Social Development, focused on signs of social fragmentation, pointing to rapid societal changes, declining levels of trust among individuals, the spread of hate speech, and weakening social bonds—where people today interact less with neighbors and even relatives compared to the past.

On the impact of technology, Aigul Sadvakassova, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies of Kazakhstan, noted that artificial intelligence plays an increasing role in shaping media agendas. She highlighted that news algorithms tend to favor individualistic values at a time when smartphones and information security remain vulnerable to breaches. She explained that peace journalism often lacks emotional appeal and fast-paced content, making it less widespread compared to sensational or negative news.

In the discussion session, Srayil Smail, Editor-in-Chief of Zhas Qazaq newspaper, warned that the world is witnessing a form of hybrid warfare in which information plays a decisive role. He cautioned that news is now broadcast almost instantly without sufficient editorial scrutiny, posing serious risks to public awareness and social stability.

The roundtable concluded with an open discussion that produced a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening ethical standards in media work, supporting peace journalism, and ensuring the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the information space.