The 2nd Meeting of the Heads of Institutions in charge of Religious Affairs of the Organization of Turkic States along with the International scientific-practical conference “Contribution of the Turkic People to the Development of the Islamic civilization” chaired by Supreme Mufti of Kazakhstan Nauryzbay Hajy Taganuly, were held on 6 May 2022 in Turkistan with participation the highest religious authorities of Turkic States - Ali Erbaş, Head of the Department of Religious Affairs of Türkiye, Allahşükür Paşazade, Chairman of Caucasus Muslims’ Board, Zamir Rakiev, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan, Hamitzhan Ishmatbekov, First Deputy Chairman of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Uzbekistan as well as members of the Council of Ulema, scholars, chief Imams and media.

The event was attended by Baghdad Amreyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Askar Omarov, Minister of Information and Social Development of Kazakhstan, Umirzak Shukeyev, Governor of Turkestan region, Darkhan Kydyrali, President of the International Turkic Academy, Ikram Adyrbek, Member of the Council of Elders of the OTS.

In his address the OTS Secretary General Bagdat Amreyev stated that the Turkic World has been playing a significant role in the Islamic world throughout the history. The Turkic people contributed greatly in the development of the Islamic civilization. The role of the Turkic World in the Islamic world remains outstanding in modern times as well. The Islam is represented in the Eurasian area corely by the Turkic States, namely, in the Central Asia, Caucasus and Europe.

Taking into account the political, social and cultural congeniality of our countries, Bagdat Amreyev pointed out that the cooperation between the brotherly Turkic States has a great strategic value and potential.

Having said that the International scientific-practical conference is not limited to the Turkic muslim ummah only, but it also addresses issues of the global agenda, in particular, countering islamophobia, xenophobia, extremism and radicalism, Baghdad Amreyev noted the significance of the dialogue in the context of the 7th Congress of the World and Traditional Religions Leaders to be held on 14-15 September 2022 in the city of Nur-Sultan.

The Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan Nauryzbay Hajy Taganuly called in his speech upon the alignment of all common efforts towards using the Islamic world consent for resolution of conflicts arising on religious and ethnic grounds in the Turkic States.

He also urged for standing against racist, confessional, ethnic and ideologic separatism as well as for creating conditions for establishment of common scientific-spiritual centers and for the knowledge exchange between scientists, teachers and students.

The Kazakh religious leader proposed the promotion of new tourism destinations as well as routes covering cultural and spiritual destinations the Member States are rich in.

Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş within his speech emphasized the necessity of intense cooperation and strong work in the fields of information and education, as well as the fight against terrorist organizations that use religion and abuse of religion.

During the Conference implementation of projects in the field of spiritual education, the approval of a single date for the celebration of religious holidays were also discussed.

On the margins of the Conference B.Amreyev held bilateral meetings with Grand muftis of Turkic States to exchange views on further development of the ongoing Turkic cooperation in the field of religion as well as on the draft Memorandum of understanding between the state religious institutions of the OTS Member States.

Secretary General Amreyev also took part in the city of Turkistan in the opening ceremony of a new street named after Adnan Menderes, the prominent Turkish politician. The inauguration that has a special significance in the light of upcoming official visit of H.E. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Republic of Türkiye was attended by Minister of Information and Social Development of Kazakhstan Mr. A.Omarov, Supreme mufti of Türkiye Dr. Ali Erbaş and Governor of the Turkistan region Mr. U.Shukeyev.