Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre advances cultural mission in Kazakhstan
The Centre strengthens its presence in the Republic of Kazakhstan through the 'Minarets of the Two Capitals' initiative, reinforcing its global strategy of promoting tolerance and intercultural dialogue.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has deepened its cultural engagement across the Republic of Kazakhstan through the distinguished ‘Minarets of the Two Capitals’ initiative, operating under the ‘Jusoor’ programme in close coordination with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in Kazakhstan.
This ongoing commitment reflects the Centre’s overarching strategy to establish a meaningful cultural and civilisational presence on the global stage whilst advancing its fundamental mission of fostering tolerance, coexistence and constructive intercultural dialogue amongst diverse communities worldwide.
Building upon nearly eight years of substantive cultural and intellectual involvement in Kazakhstan, the Centre has previously presented an exquisite architectural model of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to the esteemed Museum of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, as well as to the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Centre for Arabic Language Education. Most notably, a curated selection of specialised publications from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Library, focusing upon the rich heritage of Islamic architecture and artistic traditions, has been generously contributed to the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Dr Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, expressed that the Centre’s presence in Kazakhstan exemplifies the Mosque’s profound commitment to championing civilisational dialogue amongst cultures and peoples across the world, whilst reinforcing the cherished values of tolerance and harmonious coexistence.
He emphasised that the Centre’s comprehensive portfolio of initiatives, activities and cultural events extends an initiative launched in 2012, which has achieved the remarkable milestone of unveiling more than twenty-one architectural models of the Mosque across numerous countries throughout the world.
Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Ariqi, UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan, characterised the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre’s multifaceted engagement in Kazakhstan, spanning from the donation of library publications to the Presidential Archive to the delivery of an academic lecture at Maqsut Narikbayev University, as a tangible expression of the profound depth of bilateral relations between the two nations.
He observed that dialogue between cultures transcends mere discourse, manifesting instead through substantive action and meaningful engagement, and that this visit exemplifies such commitment in exemplary fashion.
As part of the programme, Dr Al Obaidli delivered a distinguished lecture at Maqsut Narikbayev University, attended by the institution’s Vice President for Academic Affairs alongside university students, faculty members and representatives from several embassies and the scholarly community.
The lecture emphasised the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as a living embodiment of the visionary legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose enduring mission centred upon constructing bridges of communication and understanding amongst peoples of diverse backgrounds and traditions.
Source: WAM