AKIPRESS.COM – The 7th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Boards of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) took place on 14 September 2026 in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.
The meeting was hosted by Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board and attended by Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS; Grand Mufti Nauryzbay Taganuly, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan; Mufti Abdulaziz Zakirov, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Kyrgyz Republic; Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, President of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye; Sheikh Nuriddin Khaliknazar, Chairman of the Administration of the Muslims of Uzbekistan; Rahman Gurbanmiradov, Mufti of Turkmenistan and Hakan Moral, President of Religious Affairs of the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus.
In his address, the OTS Secretary General underlined the importance of fostering dialogue, safeguarding shared values, and countering Islamophobia and radicalism. He also stressed the need to address contemporary challenges, including obstacles to marriage. Furthermore, he commended the Council and its Fatwa Committee for their significant contributions, particularly in issuing fatwas that serve the well-being of communities across the Turkic World.
During the session, the Council adopted key documents, including the declaration on “The Ruling on declaring a known muslim to be an unbeliever”; “The shared responsibility to promote marriage and protect and strengthen the family”; “Islam’s Approach to Science and Technology”, “Decisions of the Fatwa Committee of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Boards of the OTS” as well as the Communiqué on the outcomes of the meeting.
The Members of the Council also commended the valuable contribution of Secretary General Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev to the work of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Boards of the OTS. Taking note of the expiration of his term of office, the members expressed their appreciation for his dedicated service and wished him every success in his future endeavours, as reflected in the Communiqué adopted at the meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairmanship of the Council was transferred from the Caucasus Muslims’ Board of Azerbaijan to the Presidency of the Religious Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. It was further agreed that the 8th Meeting of the Council will be held in Türkiye in 2027.
