On the invitation of W. Cole Durham, President of the G20 Interfaith Forum Association, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB), is on an official visit to Salt Lake City, the capital of the US state of Utah. On 15 October, he took part in a working group meeting of the G20 Interfaith Forum Association. The meeting discussed the Association’s activities in 2026, the next G20 Interfaith Forum to be held in the United Kingdom in 2027, and the provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding on the creation of a Council of Religious Leaders within the Forum. The Memorandum was signed by Sheikh-ul-Islam A. Pashazade, as co-founder, and Metropolitan Emmanuel Adamakis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, together with W. Cole Durham, President of the G20 Interfaith Forum.

That same day, Sheikh-ul-Islam A. Pashazade spoke at the opening ceremony of the G20 Interfaith Forum, held at Temple Square in the centre of Salt Lake City. In his speech, he conveyed the greetings of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the people of Azerbaijan to the participants. He expressed sincere gratitude to the United States and its people, and in particular to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for hosting the 2026 G20 Interfaith Forum.

Stressing that threats to human life and to the existence of humankind are growing in today’s world, where wars continue, the Chairman of the CMB noted that interfaith and intercivilisational dialogue, and the joint efforts of religious and secular circles, are of great importance in confronting these threats. He said that humanity can overcome these dangers only through joint efforts.

The Sheikh-ul-Islam’s speech was broadcast live to many countries around the world through the Church’s television channel.

Before the opening ceremony, Sheikh-ul-Islam Pashazade was received by Dallin Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Chairman of the CMB conveyed the sincere greetings of President Ilham Aliyev to Mr. Oaks and noted with satisfaction that cooperation between the CMB and the Church continues at a high level. Mr. Oaks asked the Sheikh-ul-Islam to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to the President of Azerbaijan.

Within the framework of the event, Sheikh-ul-Islam A. Pashazade also held bilateral meetings with Secretary General of the Muslim World League Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary General of Religions for Peace Francis Kuria, adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Muzaffar Kamilov, and other state, religious and public figures.

The G20 Interfaith Forum brought together more than 400 well-known figures from various countries, including government officials, religious leaders, scholars and public figures. They discussed global challenges that concern humanity, including education, youth, ecology, human dignity, religious intolerance, poverty and other issues.

At the Forum’s panel “Initiatives in Education for Social Unity,” Ravan Hasanov, an expert on multiculturalism, spoke about Azerbaijan’s multicultural experience and the various projects implemented in this field.

The Interfaith Forum, traditionally held ahead of the G20 Summits, is an influential and continuously active global interfaith platform.