The participation of the Azerbaijani delegation, led by the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, in the events within the framework of the 2025 Islamic World Year in Belgium and Europe, has continued during their visit to the Kingdom of Belgium.

On March 7, a Grand Iftar dinner was organized on behalf of the King of Belgium, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium and jointly organized by the European Development and Research Academy (EDARA), ISESCO, the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, and the Caucasus Muslims Board, in honor of the participants of the events within the framework of the 2025 Islamic World Year in Belgium and Europe. Members of the Azerbaijani National Assembly (Milli Məclis), Javanshir Pashazade and Gudrat Hasanguliyev, heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan—the head of the Mountain Jews community Melikh Yevdayev, the head of the Catholic community in Azerbaijan and Apostolic Prefect of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Vladimir Fekete, and the head of the Albanian-Udi community Robert Mobili, EDARA Chairman Brahim Laytouss, and Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Ravan Hasanov attended the Iftar dinner.

Speaking at the Iftar ceremony, the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade, said he was deeply honored to convey the greetings and prayers of the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the best wishes of the Azerbaijani people to those participating in the Iftar dinner during Ramadan, one of the holy months for the Islamic world: "Our gathering around the brotherhood table of the blessed Ramadan is the Grace of Almighty God, an act pleasing to the Great Creator. Undoubtedly, the organization of the Ramadan dinner in Brussels, which holds special significance for Muslims worldwide, by the noble initiative of His Majesty King Philippe, is a generous step and a vivid manifestation of high culture, and a valuable and worthy practical contribution to strengthening relations between cultures and civilizations in the world. This should be appreciated as an exemplary step for all world leaders and European political leaders. In general, the proclamation of 2025 as the Islamic World Year in Belgium and Europe is an important event of historical significance. In this regard, I would like to express my deep gratitude to His Majesty the King and the people of Belgium on behalf of the Islamic world."

Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade added: "Such a prestigious event within the framework of the 2025 Islamic World Year in Belgium and Europe is important political support for the process of inter-civilizational dialogue. The organization of the Iftar ceremony, which is dear and sacred to Muslims, today in Brussels, the political capital of Europe, is a historic event that will be considered a credit to Europe. This is a deserving response to Islamophobic forces that want to create a Christian-Islamic confrontation and spread calls for hatred."

In his speech, Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan's multicultural life model: "Azerbaijan, an integral part of the Islamic world, which is distinguished by its respect for universal values alongside its traditional national and religious values, attaches great importance to its relations with Europe and its relations with the European Union. We appreciate the presentation of our homeland Azerbaijan's valuable experience of tolerance and coexistence, and its multicultural heritage, in Brussels for the sake of universal interests as a moment of great significance, and we are proud that you have invited representatives of Azerbaijan to the first prestigious forum within the framework of the Islamic Year in Europe. This is great value given to the Azerbaijani state, its multicultural heritage, and its experience of coexistence. The Years of Multiculturalism and Islamic Solidarity declared by President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the Baku Process on Intercultural Dialogue of which he is the author, serve precisely these intentions—human solidarity in the world. We, along with the heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan, have arrived in Brussels together, as always. In multinational and multi-confessional Azerbaijan, which values ethnic and religious diversity as its national wealth, multicultural values and religious tolerance are supported at the state level. Followers of various religions live and develop peacefully side by side in our country, and freely carry out their worship. Religious confessions operating in Azerbaijan have equal rights and are surrounded by the attention and care of the state."

Speaking about the large-scale reconstruction work underway in the lands liberated from occupation, Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade noted that places of worship belonging to all religions are being restored by our state, adding: "Today, the Azerbaijani state, which is carrying out extensive construction work in our liberated territories, is restoring and rebuilding with great care the places of worship belonging to all religions that were subjected to vandalism, alongside our destroyed cities and villages. I invite you to visit the hospitable land of Azerbaijan to become visually acquainted with our multicultural lifestyle, as well as our liberated territories."

Finally, Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade expressed his deep gratitude to His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium for his high patronage of efforts that serve human brotherhood and universal solidarity in Europe and throughout the world, and for the Iftar event, and thanked him on behalf of the religious people of Azerbaijan and the Islamic world. He expressed his hope that such initiatives will be continuous and will serve to strengthen the environment of mutual understanding on the international level, God willing.

Press Service of the Caucasus Muslims Board