Thanks to the wise and victorious statecraft of His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, our country has gained great prestige on the international stage and is worthily represented in global and regional organizations. Recently, the internationally respected organization "Religions for Peace" elected the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, as a co-president and a member of its World Council.

The selection of Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade to the position of co-president of "Religions for Peace," following his memberships in the Board of Directors of the KAICIID International Dialogue Centre and the Muslim Council of Elders, is undoubtedly another testament to the international value placed on the state of Azerbaijan, which is recognized as a global center for inter-civilizational and interfaith dialogue.

"Religions for Peace" is the world's largest international interfaith peace-building organization. Established in 1970, it is led by highly influential religious figures representing diverse countries and faiths. The organization includes six regional bodies and nearly 100 local interfaith councils operating in various countries. Each of these leaders holds the status of "co-president." Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade was elected to this position at the organization's World Council conference held on July 29, 2025, in Istanbul, and the head of the organization sent a letter to the Caucasus Muslims Board regarding this.

"Religions for Peace" holds consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), UNESCO, and UNICEF. It collaborates closely with the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the KAICIID organization, and other international bodies. Its executive body, the International Secretariat, is located in New York. The current Secretary-General is Dr. Francis Kuria, a Kenyan-born leader who also serves as the Secretary-General of the African Council of Religious Leaders and is the chair of the International Steering Group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

It should be noted that, in contrast to the authority conferred upon "Religions for Peace" Co-President Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Armenians Karekin II holds only the honorary president status on a public basis and does not officially have voting rights.

The "Religions for Peace" World Assembly convenes every 5-7 years. The last event saw the participation of nearly 900 religious leaders and representatives of religious communities and state bodies from 125 countries. The organization's next 11th World Assembly is planned to be held in late 2025 in Lindau, Germany.

At a time when revanchist propaganda by the Armenian lobby and the Armenian Church against our country has intensified following the Great Victory, the platform of "Religions for Peace" is of particular importance for conveying the truths of Azerbaijan to the international community. It will also serve to highlight the extraordinary reconstruction work being carried out in Karabakh, the exceptional significance of the Great Return that has given a new life to millions of displaced people, and the unparalleled efforts aimed at restoring our cultural and spiritual heritage. Furthermore, the "Religions for Peace" organization will provide another significant international platform for promoting Azerbaijan's exemplary model of multiculturalism and our unique experience, which was showcased as the Azerbaijani model for inter-sectarian understanding at the Intra-Islamic Dialogue conference in Bahrain.

Caucasus Muslims Board Press Service

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