The First Muslim Diaspora Forum, titled From Roots to Roads, has opened in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, bringing together representatives of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), heads of diaspora organizations, government 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 host countries, develop state-diaspora relations and identify new opportunities for international cooperation. Representatives from various countries have gathered on a common platform for the event.
Among those attending and speaking at the forum are Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz; Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Diaspora Affairs Fuad Muradov; Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy; Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklıkaya; Chairman of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) Abdulhadi Turus; OIC Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and Jerusalem Affairs Dawas Dawas; Pakistan’s Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain; and Zahra Zumrut Selcuk, Director General of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries.
Speakers emphasized the importance of closer cooperation and coordination among Muslim diasporas in addressing global challenges and making more effective use of the potential of diaspora communities.
Fuad Muradov said President Ilham Aliyev attaches particular importance to strengthening ties with Azerbaijanis living abroad, supporting their organization, preserving their national identity and encouraging their active integration into the social and political life of their host countries.
He noted that, in line with Azerbaijan’s diaspora policy, particular importance is attached to expanding contacts and cooperation with Azerbaijani communities around the world, further strengthening the activities of diaspora organizations, and supporting the development of Azerbaijani Houses, weekend schools and other diaspora institutions.
Speaking about efforts to strengthen solidarity among Azerbaijanis worldwide, Muradov said the State Committee had organized more than 800 events in 70 countries during the year. He noted that these initiatives contribute to strengthening the organization of Azerbaijani communities abroad and preserving national values.
At the same time, he stressed that diaspora organizations face growing responsibilities amid global challenges and rapidly changing international relations. He said shared historical, religious and cultural values provide an important foundation for strengthening solidarity among diaspora communities.
“In this regard, developing ties among Muslim diasporas, creating mechanisms for mutual support and promoting coordinated action on international platforms are of particular importance,” Muradov said.
He said the forum’s theme, From Roots to Roads, clearly reflects the common mission and priorities of OIC member states.
“Diaspora organizations should remain firmly connected to their roots while also opening new paths for future generations. These paths should bring our peoples closer together, connect our diasporas with their historic homelands and further strengthen cooperation among our nations. I am confident that this dialogue will eventually lead to concrete initiatives, joint projects and deeper institutional cooperation among institutions responsible for diaspora affairs in OIC member states,” Muradov said.
He 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 host countries, developing institutional relations between government bodies and diaspora communities, creating joint platforms for cooperation, and sharing successful experiences from different countries.
The forum is continuing with panel discussions.