On September 10, 2025, within the framework of the 2nd International Forum “Dialogue of Declarations” held in Tashkent, Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Fatwa Council, delivered a welcoming video address. In his remarks, he highly praised Uzbekistan’s role as the host country and emphasized the importance of international declarations in strengthening interfaith peace and harmony.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah noted that throughout centuries, Uzbekistan has been home to unique civilizational centers of science and culture such as Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva. He paid special tribute to the contributions of world-renowned scholars - al-Bukhari, Ibn Sina, and al-Khwarizmi - whose works enriched human thought and global heritage.

According to him, the United Arab Emirates fully shares the efforts of Uzbekistan’s leadership in advancing the values of peace and tolerance.

The speaker stressed that respect for religious minorities is a universal principle, while the pursuit of stronger interfaith dialogue and the safeguarding of freedom of religion is a common goal for all nations.

In this context, he placed particular emphasis on the role and significance of the current Forum in consolidating the international community on key issues, including the promotion of constructive interfaith cooperation, the development of religious education, the support of political dialogue, and the prevention of isolation or conflict among religious groups.

For information: the Forum is organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) in cooperation with the American NGO Love Your Neighbor Community (LYNC), with the support of the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the regional administration of Samarkand.

The event brings together around 50 leading scholars of religion, theologians, experts, and senior officials from 15 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and the Central Asian states.